{"sf1_id":2030147,"sf2_id":"V1YBN8ve","title":"That Strange Ill Fitting Cog","author":"Apolarbear17","words":395,"posted_at":"2023-07-28T12:47:00.000Z","tags":["Breaking","Machine","Metaphor","Poetry","Vent Poetry","cogs"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2030147-that-strange-ill-fitting-cog","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/V1YBN8ve","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/e7/6c/e76c3b2e-011a-4f36-85ae-495163628936","description":"Wrote this poem a while back when I felt my creative juices flowing again after being a bit burnt out and overwhelmed my life. This is a venting metaphor, a bit of a well worn one but still a good one in my opinion at least. Originally posted in November 2021.","content":" **That Strange Ill Fitting Cog\u0026nbsp;**\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; **By: A.X. Bueno\u0026nbsp;**\n\nThere's a curious little cog whirring in this seemingly eternal machine\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt looks out of place and almost malfunctioning next to the other cogs which comparatively look \u0026nbsp;hard working and pristine\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt does it's job well enough, as best as it can\u0026nbsp;\n\nStill being out of place means it struggles but ultimately functions and fits into the plan\u0026nbsp;\n\nBut it wasn't really made for or properly fits into this machine that very slowly wears it down\n\nIt could use a machine that would accommodate the different way it works but there isn't one around\n\nSo it toils away and strains under the pressure of the machine for which it is unprepared\u0026nbsp;\n\nThose who own and run the machine don't need to do more than pretend they've ever cared\n\nThey cover it in polish, double check it still works and then act like there's no problem here\n\nOf course when you actually look at the state of the machine why they do that becomes clear\n\nThe machine; it's outdated, decrepit, overextended, bloated with overburdened parts\n\nShould have been replaced what seems like a century ago\u0026nbsp;\n\nBut of course it's easier to ignore or merely gloss over that since it does less to effect the charts\u0026nbsp;\n\nLess is affected by letting things run as they are instead of fixing or replacing what might anyday blow\u0026nbsp;\n\nSo that cog not made for this but functional and the too ancient for this machine continue to be worked into the ground\u0026nbsp;\n\nAnd it's hoped that no one worth being concerned about really notices or will know\n\nEventually though after too much time, pressure and strain the cog finally shatters, its pieces scattering around\n\nIt is broken now slowing down the machine for mere moments but already a new cog is inbound\n\nThey're easy to replace for those who don't care\u0026nbsp;\n\nSo they put in this new cog and throw that old cogs bits in the garbage somewhere\n\nThis new cog also doesn't quite fit but it still does the work in the machine\u0026nbsp;\n\nSo the cycle continues as always regardless of whatever problems or future destruction that remains to be seen\u0026nbsp;\n\n  \n\n  \n  \n\n"}