You’ve forgotten what makes you remarkable.
It wasn’t your talent that drew me so near.
It was your passion, your heart, your willingness to fail.
I’m not interested in cold perfection.
I’d rather feel the warmth of your folly
and gaze at the the red-hot glow of your errors.
Someday, they will make a machine
to do all that you now strive to do,
and I guess it will do those things well.
With speed and precision and nary a blemish
it will churn out marble statues and symphonies,
paint portraits, raise buildings, and even perhaps, craft poems.
But there are some things it will never do.
It will never struggle or strain or exert itself,
and it will not rise above its circumstance.
They’ll never invent a thing quite like you.
They may emulate but never duplicate
your frailty, your humanity, your beauty.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Ken,
Charlie Gilkey (over at Productive Flourishing) has been trying to persuade us to switch over to the “other side.” That is, Charlie recommended your blog, and I have not lived to regret my decision. Once again, this is a fabulous poem.
Your poems are like a breath of fresh air in an age that seems to be obsessed about material pursuits. Writing poetry is a solitary activity with few takers but I am a part of that minority who enjoy creative pursuits of aesthetic sort.
This poem seeks to humanize our human experience: the lord help us if the robot/machines ever replace us homo-sapiens.
Even with all our human imperfections, at least we feel and have the benefit of consciousness. Your poem is an useful reminder in an age where technology has seduced our senses.
WOW!! This is beautiful!!
It reminds me of a guy who said if his wife would be so perfect and ever-so-obeying and did everything he wanted – he’d cheat on her in a minute!!
A remarkable poem indeed!!
Reminds us of the beauty of life, and all the wonderful (mis)adventures along the way!!
.-= Layla´s last blog ..Happy Eco New Year 2010! =-.
Thanks, Archan and Layla.