Chapter 7: Works 1

When the Robot Became a Man

When the robot became a man, was he like Eve in the garden of Eden? Once he had eaten the apple, did he realize what he had done? Did he have an unshakable urge to cover himself, upon the gnosis of his own self-evident existence? Did he suddenly feel so exposed, with a powerful conviction that he must wear clothes? Was there a powerful impulse within him, to keep himself hidden under some kind of mask to maintain the existence of his newfound self image?

And did he cook himself eggs in the morning? Perhaps he cooked himself eggs every morning before work. On one particular morning, did the eggs appear less appetizing than previous mornings? Did he pick at the eggs with his fork and think to himself "these eggs are terribly boring." Did he think to himself that tomorrow he may try sausage, or perhaps hash browns?

When the robot became a man, did he toss and turn at night when memories of his uncharming moments would emerge from his restless mind? Would he feel guilt and shame for the times he hurt others with his hard, cold robot body? Do you think he ever learned to forgive himself?

And did he ever lay in the grass on a warm sunny day? Did he feel the warmth of the sun hugging his metal face, and did he feel the coolness of the earth kissing him on the back? Did he reach his metal arm up into the sky and grab the sun with his hand? In that moment did he feel at once, a brief sense of relief? Did it occur to him that even though it was only for a second, within that second, everything may be okay? Did he ever experience such a moment of contentment? Even if it was for just one second?

When the robot became a man, did he look out his window on a drab, rainy day and think to himself that he actually didn't mind days like these? Did he think to himself how much he appreciated the cloudy grey skies for being easier on his gaze, and how the sound of the rain provided him a comforting ambiance? Did he have to calculate with his brain made from sand, that days like this made him think of times when he was younger? When he was just a little robot boy. Before he had to grow up and face the world and become a robot man.

And did he cry? Did he ever weep? The kind of cry that resolves oneself. Did he ever let out tears that had accumulated for not just a week, or a month, but perhaps had accumulated for several years? Did he ever get to experience such a catharsis?

When the robot became a man, on New Year's Day would he hear all of his robot friends and family say, "This year went by so fast!" Do you think for a small moment, an almost instantaneous crushing sensation would overcome him? Did the robot man feel just how bound and limited he was by time? Did he understand what this really meant for him?

And when his time had finally come, when his metal body was too rusty and deteriorated to go on, do you think he had reached some resolution about death? Did he have a moment to reflect on his robot life as a robot man? Did he ever question how all of this was at all even possible? Did he appreciate it? Was it beautiful? Wasn't it beautiful?

Hard-ly Human

If I look at myself for too long in the mirror,
There is always something I find peculiarly off about my face.
Something so mundanely alien about my face.
And for a brief second I can feel my heart drop to my gut
As I see something hardly recognizable staring back at me.
And I am reminded that if I were made more solid,
If I were made of steel not flesh,
I could look the same each day.

Flesh to Metal Converter

God made flesh
So man made metal
Competing with God’s world
From an atomic level

The subject becomes object
In disgust of flesh and blood
Whilst cruel bombs threaten
Another holy flood

From Adam to Atom
Exiting the mental
My flesh is imprisoned
By this man-made metal

Spire to One

Context that constructs existence
Relates to space without insistence
A grand structure of worldly tether
Holding time and space together

Upon the construct spires erected
as Euclid's planes at once defected
A form of language precise, projected:

The throne of God shall be obtained some day,
When we automate the work away.
For each man will soon be fed,
For he can now turn stones to bread.

The dualities collapse as dimension withdrew
Anything is possible inside of base two
From all to one, the monad illumines
For the blood of God, I become posthuman.