I built a sweet robot
that looked like me
he went off to work
uncomplainingly
he shopped and he cooked
he kept the place clean
he saw friends and family
for propylene
worked out at weekends
was cheerful in queues
kept up to date
with the daily news
tended the garden
was social or private
sometimes quarrelsome
sometimes quiet
one day he stopped me
and said with a cough
it seems you’re redundant
and switched me off