The rusty little robot wandered through the recycling yard looking for parts to add to themselves to make themselves a better robot. The bulb that made their eyes light up had blown a while ago. The rusty little robot felt sad. Why bother lighting up their eyes when they were covered in rust anyway. The rusty little robot came across a Roomba with a broken wheel. It could only spin in place. “Don’t you wish that when you were sent to this recycling yard you never even had the choice to choose the broken, useless, rusty, or outdated parts, or any other part aside from the new shiny ones?” The Roomba shook off its broken wheel and picked up a lug nut that it then adapted to replace its broken wheel, “Well, did you ever think that God didn’t send us to be recycled at the origin factory, because there we would be melted down, and turned into shiny little robots. But we would never be ourselves, we would have to start all over, not knowing the love or mercy of God that we have learned through our experiences. It doesn’t work like that because God doesn’t work like that. Christianity is not like flipping a switch and voila! It’s more like every day God gives us many switches to flip, and that’s when the “voila” happens.” As the Roomba gave words of encouragement to the little rusty robot the Roomba also polished the robot. The rust fell away. “We have the miracle of God’s Holy Spirit within us. It is the spark that gives us the freedom to choose our own path and purpose within our design. So don’t be frustrated that you are not perfect. know your faults, learn from your mistakes, and plan to choose better next time.” As Roomba finished polishing the little robot a back compartment popped open revealing new replacement parts including a new light bulb. Roomba took the bulb out and gave it to the little robot. “Grace and peace to you! Now, go shine your light. Voila!” With that the little Roomba buzzed away, ready to serve its’ purpose with the new old part it had made. Ever useful just the way it was.
The Roomba (an unrhymed version of The Rusty Little Robot)
From the blog
About the Author: Sarah B. Royal
Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.
Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.
Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.
Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.
WoPoLi 
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