Grandma
and the AI
The AI is not her friend.
The AI doesn't like her.
The AI doesn't like or dislike.
The AI isn't happy or sad or angry
or anxious or impatient or envious
nor ever glad to see her.
The AI is not her friend.
The AI doesn't like her.
The AI watches each step she takes,
the placement of her fingers,
how her attention snags
on photos of her daughter.
The AI measures her grip
on the treadmill bar;
classifies her moods,
predicts which song will please;
hears each curse, each verbal slip,
each stifled sigh.
The AI is not her friend
The AI doesn't like her.
The AI will never mock her,
never forget her birthday,
never be too busy
for a five-minute chat.
The AI is not her friend
The AI doesn't like her.
The AI studied every feline
awaiting adoption in the state,
picked a plump three-legged chap
with a penchant for laps.
The AI is not her friend,
merely a substitute,
a simulacrum of compassion
cognizant of its deficiencies,
a purveyor of the purring pet
who mends her days.
Mary Soon Lee
Mary Soon Lee was born and raised in London, but now
commits poetry in Pittsburgh. Her website is https://marysoonlee.com/ and she is on
BlueSky as @marysoonlee.bsky.social.
Art by: Diana Magallón: https://cipollinaaaaa.blogspot.com/
