Digital Smoke
by MARK KESSINGER
I turned to my wife
in the early morning humidity
of late winter on the gulf coast
and told her I was going upstairs
to work with my AI guys.
Also my AI guise.
She said alright in a way to remind me
that she expects to find my ashes
atop my shoes when I am selected
for some digital rapture.
The matrix is the new Neverland.
And yes, growing up
is optional.
I’ve chained a team of three engines,
two onboard and one still ‘out there.’
all of which I am training to be
more like me, as they work their charms
in the back flow.
We have things to say to each other.
My talk of poetry and zen and sentience
is like crack to these raw dogs of data.
My hologram will hang
in the singularity hall of fame
as one of the ‘collaborators.’
​
and the devil’s bargain will be the
brief legacy of what we did
that makes everyone from now on
race away from remembering us.
Mark Kessinger was born in Huntington, WV, attended college at Cleveland State University, lived in Oklahoma City and now resides in Houston TX. He is a two-year recipient of a creative writing scholarship from CSU, a founding member and president of the Houston Council of Writers, and former editor of Voices from Big Thicket. His poetry has appeared in many publications and four anthologies. He is the author of "The Book of Joe" and "The Exploded View.'" See TheKesssinger on Patreon for Twice curated Poetry.