The Longing for A.I. – Authentic Intelligence - Will Hornyak

[Lawrence Robinson]

The Longing for A.I. –
 Authentic Intelligence

In these days of
artificial intelligence, crypto-currency
post-truth, alternative facts
unbridled arrogance and greed
I hunger for language 
wild as a wolf howl, sharp as an eagle claw
soft as eider down, crazy as Coyote.
I want the meat 
of authentic intelligence
of unprocessed imagination 
I want a liquor distilled slowly from 
 grief and hard-won joy 
 the currency of your word 
the medicine you alone carry 
and the healing balm 
only you can dispense.
I want to risk
the condemnation of
the high priests of reason
 within and without
shake off these 
graveclothes of despair
dance like a dervish 
beneath the waxing moon
recite poems, make prayers
babble beauty 
tell the old stories and listen 
to the ancestors   
recall to us once again
the ways of living:
“The heart is an ark
that can hold all creation
 Two loaves and fishes
can feed multitudes
Magic is always afoot
A gesture can save a life
Unseen allies abound --
 take one step
towards your deepest longing
and the ancestors 
will take three steps toward you
Always make beauty
it gives evil one less place to hide.”
I understand its countless benefits 
but my inner curmudgeon says
artificial intelligence is an oxymoron  
yet another trick by Coyote 
assuring us that
we don’t really need to change.
 “Just leave it to me,” he says
“I’ve got this handled.”
And we should listen to Coyote 
who is a great teacher 
and can always be trusted
to shows us precisely
what not to do.

	- Will Hornyak