1.
it’s strange to watch
when they turn their faces
inside out
to clean protective coatings
run diagnostics
and do minor repairs on their sensory
bio-mechanical
movement
and weapon systems
I’m told they have sonar, x-ray
and other lethal abilities
I suppose I should feel safe
the robot cycle laws are clear
machines will carefully avoid
harming a harmless human
and
all robot self-maintenance
must be performed in public
the tall machines
they disappear into each night
must do the rest
each morning they emerge fresh
attention poised
awareness
sparkling
2.
there’s a fad
mostly among some who
spend time writing purely
as humans
to use keyboards and fingers
to capture thoughts
most of us
simply think
and the sentient mechanisms
inhabiting our living spaces
or watchful robots
attend to all of our wishes
3.
it doesn’t take much
to be declared harmful
a whisper or a hand gesture
and you’re gone