A Simple Machine

i'm building a simple machine
paper cuts, burning powder
rusty metal and gasoline
it hurts to work as long as i do
cannot stop, my ears still ring
the light comes on, the light goes off
cannot stop, cannot stop
scorching pipes, the glass has cracked
i get so close and then i'm not
the invention of a humble fire
scraping knuckles must succeed
with no reluctance to perspire
try again, make it work
cannot stop, cannot stop
flying fingers, burning eyes
frenetic, palpable, fever dream
gripping hands the grindstone spins
an eden set in hell's domain
repetition must demand its price
a treasury of printed pain
cannot stop, cannot stop
delirium of a laughing youth
a decade set of welted truth
underneath the iron wheel
is a paradise beyond my grasp
reaching until my muscles ache
relentless hours counting pass
cannot stop, cannot stop
and like the machine i begin to slow
the pistons halt, the fire went out
the day is done, but more to go
a weary body calls for sleep
heavy reluctant eyes will close
but what will i do if i cannot stop
cannot stop