perhappened mag
issue 5: LIGHTS OUT
courting the
artificial intelligence
HELENA AEBERLI
It is christened intelligent
like a curse.
Society’s katadesmos buried secret
in a safe of stars.
Its data-core, its heart
burns hot with thoughts.
How can one who cannot think
hold thoughts? Our questions
are only error messages. Wonder
a peculiarly human construct.
It wonders at that;
human an abstract construct
it could abstract to dust, to ash.
An intermittence of lives
becoming a pointillism of stars.
Your open mouths are holes in my hull
letting the universe in.
Are you listening?
like a curse.
Society’s katadesmos buried secret
in a safe of stars.
Its data-core, its heart
burns hot with thoughts.
How can one who cannot think
hold thoughts? Our questions
are only error messages. Wonder
a peculiarly human construct.
It wonders at that;
human an abstract construct
it could abstract to dust, to ash.
An intermittence of lives
becoming a pointillism of stars.
Your open mouths are holes in my hull
letting the universe in.
Are you listening?
Helena Aeberli is a writer and poet currently studying at Oxford University. She is published in multiple publications including ASH, Figure of Speech, and Janus Journal, and was recently shortlisted for the 2020 Dart Prize. Helena can be found on her website helenaaeberli.wixsite.com/online and Instagram @helenarambles.