Machines tend to fall apart ...
When you override their smarts
Ignoring their timed operations
To promptly tend with your own makings
And subsequent attempts to use
Seem to fall apart as you lose
For their cycles take priority
And thus have full seniority
So then all you do is compound things
As allocations revise their springs
And places once reserved for yours
Now are set aside for all their chores
And then you find those awful drive errors
Opening eyes and striking deep terror
As you consider whether your data's safe
... A concern which ultimately rubs and chafes
- Tristram
(c) Christopher W. Thomas
11:20am Sunday, Nov. 29th, 1998