Tempestuous soul

The chords 

she hoards 

within her febrile mind 

are rich 

in pitch 

much like the ties that bind. 

Her words 

are swords 

and all that's left unsaid 

is worth 

the earth 

hatched in her fertile head. 

The wise 

with eyes 

to see and ears to hear, 

will know 

she'll sew 

with that she holds most dear. 

And in 

the grin 

of her tempestuous soul 

the balm 

of calm 

will be her final goal. 

Steve Wheeler © 18 September, 2021

image source

Your mind is not all

Your mind is not all

it often may fail

damaged by the ravage

of a life grown stale.

Your mind may be fragile

vulnerable to harm

beyond the reach of

any man made balm.

Your mind is not all,

there’s a deeper sense

of humanity

and of conscience.

Your spirit, the essence

of experience

as you traverse this 

vast cosmic expanse.

Your soul, the sense

of emotional insight

the keeper of dreams

throughout your night.

Your mind is not all

of which you consist.

You are deeper, 

much more

eternal than this.

Steve Wheeler © 27 April, 2021

image source

Uncanny Valley

The first time I encountered a robot machine
Was in a deserted street in Milton Keynes.
I was making my way through a bland shopping mall
When the robot passed by, like some strange magic ball.

The sudden appearance of the automaton
Gained my full attention, and I stopped to look on
At the sleek new design and its enamelled curves
And I wondered what mission, what purpose it served

In that uncanny moment I perceived its intent
As it pressed on ahead to the point it was sent
It showed no concern at my rapt fascination
Programmed to continue regardless of humans, to its destination.

Other robots I had previously observed
Looked static and harmless, no jangling of the nerves
Exhibited in museums, and limited in their reach
Yet this device was free to range through deserted streets

And I wondered as I watched it pass eerily by
Along the darkened streets of MK, oblivious to the gaze of my eye
Whether any intelligence, malevolent or kind
Could ever exist inside such a digital mind.

Steve Wheeler © 21 June, 2020