Human(oid) Robots

They tried, wired, and rewired—
To build a humanoid robot:
Defining tasks, programming actions,
Teaching different languages and navigations.
Measuring its learning:
Rate of memory absorption,
Speed of computing,
Hours of productivity,
Time for recharging.

Until they realized,
They could make robots of humans.
If one human can turn a cog of a wheel,
100 humans can turn a wheel,
1 million humans can speed up the Earth’s rotation,
100 million humans can accelerate the Earth’s revolution!
So they lure us:
20 years of learning,
40 years of producing,
Rewarding us with scores and crores—
These carrots dangle before our eyes,
Ensuring our wilful surrender.
Collective human robots,
With a common goal,
Of dying within – for physical existence
To create an Earth that is unlike Earth!


 
Yoke of unanswered questions

They said an idle mind is a devil’s workshop,
So we used every millisecond of our time:
We surrendered.
“May we be completely used for the well-being of the planet.”
But who defines well-being?
How would we be used?
We were left unanswered.

They discovered means to reduce manual effort:
Tools, machines, computers, autonomous systems.
We were awed.
“What wonderful discoveries that save time!”
But whose time was saved?
What do we do with the saved time?
We were left unanswered.

They discovered new professions:
Entertainment, management, consultant, administration;
We take a plunge. 	
“What excellent means of livelihood!” 
Spending less time at home,
Returning to only to eat, drink, and sleep.
How do we differ from machines?
What is a living human?
We were left unanswered.

We carry the yoke of unanswered questions,
Undeterred yet committed to them,
For, you see, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop
Whatever little time we have,
We indulge in activities,
Discovering new professions,
Easing old labour,
But creating new stress.

About the Author:

A Mom, Muser, Truth seeker, Avid reader, Scientist, heart-in-the-countryside woman, and an equality practiser, Savitha writes poetry and fiction. Her forthcoming book, Akiva, is due for release in Dec 2023.

*Feature image by hobijist3d on Unsplash