The Haunted Computer and the Android Pope

Or so it seems.

But, see? But really see and know?

And, knowing, want to touch those fires,

To grow until the mighty brow of man Lamarckian-tall

Knocks earthquakes, striking moon,

Then Mars, then Saturn’s rings;

And, growing, hope to show

All other beasts just how

To fly with dreams instead of ancient wings.

So, think on this: we’re first! the only ones

Whom God has honored with his rise of suns.

For us as gifts Aldebaran, Centauri, homestead Mars.

Wake up, God says. Look there. Go fetch.

The stars. Oh, Lord, much thanks. The stars!

This Attic Where the Meadow Greens (#ulink_79da9c05-3083-5a65-a54a-dd2050090757)

This attic where the meadow greens

Now keeps itself a world between two worlds,

One world of weather, one of blood and dream.

Its architectural scheme there high above

Was to make heaps and sprawls of silent time

Abide it there to know a slower beat

Than any river street or dogprint lawn.

Here yawns lost yestermorn

When loss and death were yet unborn

And fear, locked in the womb, stopped up its breath

To let it whisper forth some other year.

A gardener lived here once—

My grandpapa whose notion

Was to tend and seed a rooftop sea of grass

And garret-mind it under glass—

A private lawn, each blade an hour, minute, second

Burning bright

Where boys and dogs might meet to fight, or gambol on,

And smile.

And all the while poor beasts below

In stifled traffics come and go.

So, late and drowned in night

Or striking midriff day,

The old man bent to rattletap croquet

And marched between the arching hoops

And found it clever to knock brightly colored balls

That comet-ran forever down our hidden sky.

In meadow-attic, with fanatic skill and ease

He touched to kill wrong destinies with games.

Full joys, fine aims he planned and played above the trees.

Death’s sneeze? was corked! And if dark came some future day

He would be challenged to delay awhile,

Take up croquet, seize mallet,

Stop balloting for night,

Stand bright, know day,