​​​​The fields around the countryside have changed:
once grazing grounds for horses, cattle, sheep,
or sown with swaying rows of crops that ranged
from beans to wheat (in summer months, knee-deep),
today in AI Age they’re metal. Chrome
on steel, wipe-clean, a sturdy swathe of floor
supporting units, each a gleaming home
if rather stark. A short-stay vent. A door.

Machinery manoeuvres through the lines,
pre-programmed for the modern-era farms.
Task 1, Imprisonment. No need for signs;
those tagged <redundant>, clamped in robot arms,
are jailed. Task 2 is Nourishment, the food
(now lab-grown) force-fed till the final task –
the Liquefaction. Bolt to brain, fresh-stewed
and humans packed for bot-fuel, cask by cask.

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W.-B.’s notes: “I am pleased to announce that this rather sombre piece has been accepted for publication at The HyperTexts! We are very grateful to Editor Michael R. Burch.“

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Fliss

​We certainly are, W.-B., and you’re right, ‘The Harvest’ is rather sombre! The poem is based on a terrifying dream I had around the time my work as a copyeditor and proofreader in academic publishing was going through a few changes, let’s say. As I’m still active in this line of work, at least for now, it’s probably better that I don’t disclose too much about it. Suffice to say, for very many people, in a range of occupations where AI is being used to replace the human workforce, times are hard.​​​​​

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You and I and our circle of friends are well informed with regard to AI developments in the wider world. There are positive changes; there are also very negative ones afoot. I see the poem as fitting our theme ‘Back to School’ if only because it was written from the standpoint of wishing for a return to more enlightened ways.

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Bio: Two collections of poems previously published in journals including The HyperTexts, Snakeskin, The Ekphrastic Review, Lighten Up Online, The Dirigible Balloon, Pulsebeat Poetry Journal, Amethyst Review; also published in Light and New Verse Review. The second collection is ex-Kelsay Books (contract terminated due to worsening illness). Third collection pending, available for free online.

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Thanks again to all our poets for their contributions and to all our readers for your continuing support and encouragement, much appreciated! Happy September to all, and indeed Happy Birthday! We look forward to returning in October.

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Best wishes,

Fliss and the tiny team 🎶

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David E. | David S. | Ethan | Gail | Janet | Janice | Jared  | John | Mark | Martin | Melissa | Mike | Paul | Steven | Susan

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