I like to think (and
the sooner the better!)
of a cybernetic meadow
where mammals and computers
live together in mutually
programming harmony
like pure water
touching clear sky.
I like to think
(right now, please!)
of a cybernetic forest
filled with pines and electronics
where deer stroll peacefully
past computers
as if they were flowers
with spinning blossoms.
I like to think
(it has to be!)
of a cybernetic ecology
where we are free of our labors
and joined back to nature,
returned to our mammal
brothers and sisters,
and all watched over
by machines of loving grace.
All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace by Richard Brautigan • 58 poems by Richard BrautiganEdit
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Born on January 30th, 1935 in Tacoma, Washington, little is known of his childhood but it is rumored it was a troubled one.
Somewhere around 1955-1958, Richard moved to San Francisco, California and became involved in the Beat Movement.
In 1959, Lay the Marble Tea was published (his first published book?). This was a collection of 24 poems.
In the late 1960's, Brautigan began to gain popularity and during this time, published several of his most popular works (Trout Fishing in America, All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace, etc.). During 1966-67, he served as the poet-in-residence at California Institute of Technology.
In 1972
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By Richard Brautigan, © -1, All rights reserved.
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- Can someone please tell me what elements of science are in this poem?Rate this comment
- Whilst not wanting to do your homework for you, you should be able to find evidence of Electronics,Biology (plant, animal and human), Genetics, Artificial Inteligence and a few other things as well.
Jim Brautigan was Poet-in-Residence at Caltech in 1967 when he wrote this poem. He was a bit of a fish out of water there. The students imagined that they were creating a future where the grunt work of living would be taken over by machines, thus allowing humanity to pursue higher goals in the arts and science. Brautigan may have taken this to its possible extreme, where humans need do nothing at all because of the machines, becoming like pets to humans. It's a future that looks appealing on first brush, but winds up dehumanizing the people it was meant to free to be more human.
More like another Brautigan
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.- Sorry It has taken so long but the poem you mentioned is now available in our classical collection http://allpoetry.com/poem/9112801
Jim I.G.Y. by Donald Fagan
From guest A. A. Bruisee (contact)
RB wrote this around 1967. His sentiments echoed in Donald Fagan's song I.G.Y. (1982).
theme
From guest bob (contact)
what is the theme in this poem?
MOD MESSAGE
http://oldpoetry.com/board/topic/1492
JimSource of year of death
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."
year of death
From guest Tyler (contact)
The year of his death was 1984 not 1982.
(if you provide a source for the 1984 date we'll be happy to change it - Oldpoetry Team)- From guest Flicka (contact)
I did not understand it, until my english teacher explained it to me. This is the kind of world we are living in know. Whenever he wrote this poem he must of ben seeeing a vision of the future. Today it makes perfect sence. Don't you think - From guest nick (contact)
i like it has meaning to it not just an ordinary poem - I think this has to be sardonic. He's not talking about utopia, he's talking about Big Brother. Nature and technology are two contrasting ideals. One succeeds at the other's expense. So, I figure when he's describing them as joined peacefully, especially in such an uncharacteristically maudlin fashion, he's doing so with a half-grin and the knowledge that such a future could never exist. Being seen as kin to wild animals is not a good thing in Brautigan's view, nor is being watched over by "loving" machines, a.k.a. the powers that be.. which is happening, (i.e. the Patriot Act.)
it has to be!
From guest Christian (contact)
Is it a longing for something he fears we'll never see? Machines take the place of gods. I don't think the poem contains much actual hope for the utopia it describes. It's wistful, even desperate.A poem for now
From guest David Werner (contact)
Richard had a prophetic vision about technology and nature. Our task is to meld technology and nature in a way that makes technology "machines that watch over us with loving grace." That's how it's turning out, and the task is to make those machines (whether computers or nuclear power plants) serve the needs of humans in conformance with nature.- From guest Nena (contact)
I think this poem is very expressive and iconic. - From guest J. Mozelsio Kaufthile (contact)
This is one of my favorite poems by Brautigan I read it four or five times when I first saw it in a book
