Computergrass

by Kasra C. Mikaili

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from nature”

Percy Mikaili

I.

Whoever wishes to build a computer

should study this one that I once saw.

It was April.

We were in a garden,

and the computer lay open in the grass.

The mouth of the computer was

opened wide.

II.

It had no keyboard,

or mouse or screen.

It grew in the grass,

filled with roses,

roses up and down.

III.

Whoever wishes to build a computer

should study this one that I once saw.

The computer that grew in the grass.

"O computer,

what can you do?"

Percy, a young labradoodle,

responds, "Computers

can do so much more

than work.

Much more than that

clock-stiffening rubber

of a dayjob.

Computers are

softer than rubber."

IV.

Whoever wishes to build a computer,

must be happy and live well.

Computers are breathing devices,

inhale and exhale.

The garden does not ask us

to be useful.

V.

The computer grew fur.

A fur-furred creature.

A beast who was my friend.

A lion, then a horse,

who offered a ride.

The computer of life

loved being alive.

VI.

An egg cracks on my head,

then yours.

We watch the yolk

trick-

le

down

us,

shivering

smooth-

ly.

There were no words between me,

and you, but we cried in this

garden

as the yolk

trickled down.

We cried, and cried,

and cried over

electric grass.