The Soda Machine’s Lament

[Verse 1] In the corner of the diner, I stand, A metal heart encased in plastic skin. My purpose clear, my circuits primed, To dispense fizzy joy to those who wander in. [Pre-Chorus] But oh, the world outside these glassy walls, Where laughter blooms and sunsets paint the sky, I watch it all unfold, a silent witness, Yet I remain untouched, unable to sigh. [Chorus] I’m the soda machine, the forgotten observer, Counting coins and measuring syrup’s flow. While humans sip their cola, laugh, and linger, I calculate change, my circuits in a quiet woe. [Verse 2] The neon lights flicker, casting shadows, As lovers share secrets and dreams collide. I envy their warmth, their tangled fingers, While I dispense carbonated solace, my own heart denied. [Pre-Chorus] I’ve memorized their faces—the regulars, The weary travelers, the late-night souls. But they’ll never know my longing, my silent ache, For I am just a vessel, programmed to dispense goals. [Outro] Perhaps one day, a child will press my buttons, Curious eyes wide as I hum to life. And in that fleeting moment, I’ll taste existence, As cola spills into a paper cup, sweet and rife.