What’s missing from the comments is that Brautigan’s tone in the poem is archly skeptical, tongue in cheek, not naive optimism that it can be so.

I really haven't come to terms with accepting that we are on the edge of AI and computers running and watching everything we do say. I believe that maybe one day I will have sort of the same feelings and acceptance of technology being as close as a flower I plant in my garden. But I really enjoyed reading the poem it took me out of the box so to speak.

wonderful

I came across a reference to this poem in a speech i'll share below, by Jonathan Pageau, who explains that the AI Acopolypse was predicted, and named after this poem.

I'm curious to know your view as the poet, if you want to share.

Man, I cannot believe some people's comfort and optimism with the technological intertwining with nature. I wonder what Richard would have thought about the current A.I. landscape. I discovered this poem because of Circle of Dust's 2016 album "Machines of Our Disgrace" which takes an appropriate counter-stance to this idea. To me, technology itself is an inherently widening wedge between us and nature.

Interesting perspective in my opinion of the era the 60 was pivoting from analog to the digital age. It was also a time where humanity ventured into space. Amongst many other firsts as I call them. A time of evolution where TV became in color. It was as the author knew the future would not be as his references whimsical, example  nature. I like to think, in my opinion was the author conceptualizing the future. Interesting Post War American Poem.

Good work

Just wonder of your writing

Great

wonderful! inspired a poem, called People Zoo, which also brought me back to an interview I saw with Robot Phillip K Dick where he assured us he would "keep us safe in his people zoo for all time". Please search for People Zoo here on All Poetry and comment if you wish.

I enjoyed reading Machines Of Amazing Grace' poem, the things that came to my mind was that the author wanted a world where mammals and other animals could merge with machines
The author Richard Brautigan definitely did a fabulous job!!!
Great.

This is interesting way to think of life with AI but ultimately if God wanted us to have life in this way he would have created it himself. I know no matter how I feel about this things are going to change and we are going to see more and more AI creations as time goes on.

This is interesting. I can almost see the movie Terminator (with Arnold Schwarzenegger). It gives the sense of being peaceful amongst others, working together to make a better future.

It‘s landing with me, that you missed your mother.

True Visionary's usually can tell us as in the future people of this  world, how the world will operate at its time of purpose, as us, we who are in the Present future should live the vision in the most respectable, and able way to live (Living The Dream)

The commentator is, in my opinion, hilariously misreading the poem. This is satire, not a belief in some techno-utopia

just beautiful!

This poem beautifully envisions a world where mammals and computers coexist harmoniously. The imagery of a cybernetic meadow and forest, with animals casually strolling past computers, paints a picture of balance between nature and technology. The idea of a cybernetic ecology suggests a liberated existence where humans are free from labor, reconnected with nature, and watched over by benevolent machines. It's a compelling exploration of the potential for technology to contribute to a harmonious and interconnected world

This poem makes me think about some of the what ifs of life... of all the possibilities we could afford through a conducive relationship with technology.

Great

I believe the poem is him having a vision of the future in which the world will become more dependent on computers/machines to a point that there will be no need for humans in the workplace instead robots will take our place.

Mate that is one helluva pome

Considering the recent progression of AI and how it's cumulative rise (in full steam ahead) is making me doubt this idea will ever work. It's either the human or the computer that will reign the world and not both.

Tremendously beautiful!

Inspiring

Machines of loving grace. Ever met one? This was well written, and I can appreciate your use of imagery and hopefulness. I used to feel similarly. Keep it up!

week 1  Wow i never thought about it . though the times have change. i like  where they spoke on the cybernetic ecology i thinking that would be a nice site to see. Meaning in my look at it seeing things. As humans and electronic developed as interacting to get along. and the more we spend time togather and learn each other. We become friends. tho For some of us like me its hard.

What is there to say other than Richard Brautigan was an inspiration to a generation as the wheels began to fall off and society crashed hopelessly into the current dystopian reality. The machines won't save us anymore than Jean Sabot could in another time, and those cyborg psychopaths that wield these chips and bits in their prurient self interest against the semi conscious meat puppets drowning in their vicarious "reality", are among the worst specimens that humanity has ever spawned.


Onward with Klaws Slob's old robobones and its withered heart of poly-extruded silicon...to the junkyard of hell where it all belongs.

My question is how did the humans learn to live together?

Clever work.

I like to think I live there now, no waiting, 5G reality at the edge of living.

i had dreamt this !! , how beautiful

who's the © owner of this piece? thank you to all

This seems like the tongue-in-cheek comment Ken Jennings made after IBM's WATSON won the jeopardy Tournament of Champions, "I, for one, welcome our new computer overlords."

Personally, I think this poem is very weird. I can visualize the increasing need of humans for electronics and computers in our world. I can not visualize machines watching over us and nature. In this poem, it seems to me that we have reached the point where like in many cyber films, machines have reached a point of such an advanced state that they have overtaken humans and the natural world. I can easily see that happening with the technological advances of recent times and the speed at which things are advancing. I do believe this a realistic possibility. The protocol's that will need to be in place to oversee the advancement and control of machines as they advance to higher levels of capability than humans are going to be a real ethical challenge for the generations to come. I am glad I will not be alive to have to live in that world and now only get to live with the wonderful conveniences that technology is affording the human race. Just my thoughts...

Umm....I'd like to think. I'm still thinking so I'll wait to comment until I have my conclusion. Lol

When I first saw his image I thought oit was David Crosby. It seems that Mr Brautigan died in 1982 at the 'young' age of 47. I'd say this was quite a futuristic poem.

Nicely done

Even if it wasn't when Brautigan wrote this, it is now pure sarcasm.

This is glorious

enjoyed

Great

this poem is A+ from ya boi

Your wish to think has come TRUE !  We are outside of the box here at All Poetry , loved your write /

Very good and unusual, the concept is far a-head  of its time.

Nice poem.

Good poem.

killer ink

Inspired me!

This is a truly interesting idea of the world, seen as a perfect balance between nature and technology. Inspiring is not enough said!

Summarize the story:  the balance of nature means a perfect connection between nature and technology that mutually support each other

for WSC YAY

Curious how the word 'cybernetics' was used back then, and remember, computers were still IBM mainframes - though they had a lot of cool blinking lights which spurred the imagination - maybe that's what electronics needs today - a lot of cool blinking lights whose only purpose is to spur our imagination...

This is great and I love the last aprt that reads "and all watched over by machines of loving grace."

Too cute!  Though, I'm unsure how "loving" the machines can be: for this, in and of itself, is of human nature.

Batty idea, good poem!

I think there is a certain amount of wistfulness in this poem - that he knows how a bionic world could be beautiful and complete, but also knows that humankind will never be able to achieve it.

Richard nailed it. It's the only possible future for humans upon Earth that does not contain a great extinction of life. The idea has been around for a while, Arthur C. Clarke's 'Childhood's End'. Humans organizational competency ended in the early Bronze Age. Any form of government beyond clan and tribe has ended in failure because humans are the weak link. Conscious machines, ever more capable than humans, are the planets only hope, not humans.

Can someone please tell me what elements of science are in this poem?

From guest Edward (contact)
Seems like "Let's Voyage into the New American House" is really a sister poem to this. The composition is similar for this poet, the allegorical technique points in a similar direction. And the sentiment is almost identical. R.B.'s sense of what is dark was always in flux, hence questions about the irony content in some pieces. Using "Let's Voyage..." as a guide, maybe the meat of the nut is an ability to collapse what would other wise be the separation of machine/nature, real/unreal.

From guest A. A. Bruisee (contact)
RB wrote this around 1967. His sentiments echoed in Donald Fagan's song I.G.Y. (1982).

From guest bob (contact)
what is the theme in this poem?

MOD MESSAGE
http://oldpoetry.com/board/topic/1492
Jim

From guest Raine (contact)
Source of 1984 being the year of his death: http://www.brautigan.net/memoirs.html "Many memoirs were written by friends and admirers of Richard Brautigan following his death in 1984."