Nevertheless

Like the machine the day had churned in dark circles,
But when at last I came back the whole contraption
Had stopped too soon, all its baggage had halted
In a stubborn wish to stay there and nowhere else.
I wouldn’t know when this had happened,
Maybe some time in the first half-hour while I
Was abroad it had issued a rap, a shudder,
A shake, and a stillness. Its red warning
Stayed alight on the closed door. Its water
Wasn’t going to break into any outlet,
Its porthole gave onto a darkness that refused
Any sound or movement, and I found myself
Looking out for comfort at a clear night sky.
It hadn’t stopped.