Ghosts in this Machine

The gear slips as the cog eases
past the missing teeth
and slowly, one by one, the parts
begin to show signs of weakness.
The cylinders sigh with the hiss of steam as
the engine is forced
to tick over in its idle state,
shakily breathing between
the unexpected periods of hypermanic full-tilt and
static inanimate existence.
Un-manned controls at the helm
show evidence of interaction, but
that is all...all
till the next time
a foot hit's the floor and
the world races by...
Till then there will only be
ghosts in this machine...