Informatic Man

Beware of buffering bugs!

Caught in a web, communication ceased;
buffering bugs ate network's interface.
Then hungry mobile robots were released ~
all data disappeared without a trace.

Complete analytical chaos crashed
computers 'cross a planet under threat;
disorder driven deep when hard drives flashed,
caused viral users everywhere to fret.

There's one who's dedicated his career,
when systems need some information flow ~
he is a superhero engineer.
Intelligent? Yes ... artificial? No!

With pattern recognition as his plan,
we can depend on Informatic Man.

2023

Author's Note

Artificial intelligence will change our lives. We may need a superhero engineer to save us!

There is a little story behind this poem. Lightsong had told me her brother was an informatics engineer. I said, "a what?" Last week her brother was visiting. I wrote oh, the informatic man. Next thing you know my pen popped off with this so he might get a laugh the next morning, from an odd poet who lives under the Space Needle.

Reviews

[E.P. Robles]

This poem reminded me of one of my art works. "Numeric Man." (Link: https://www.behance.net/gallery/9668919/Numeric-Man-II)

Here is my review:

a vivid portrayal of a catastrophic technological breakdown.

The imagery suggests a world entangled in a metaphorical web, where communication abruptly ceases and the network's interface is devoured by buffering bugs.

This sets the stage for the emergence of hungry mobile robots that unleash havoc, leading to the disappearance of all data.

The chaos that ensues is described as computers crashing worldwide, highlighting the magnitude of the technological crisis.

This disorder runs deep, symbolized by the flashing hard drives, further exacerbating the fears of viral users who find themselves helpless in the face of this calamity.

However, amidst this chaos, the poet introduces a character, a superhero engineer, who has dedicated his career to resolving such crises.

He possesses remarkable intelligence and expertise in pattern recognition, enabling him to navigate through the chaos and restore the flow of information.

It is important to note that while he is intelligent, he is not artificial but rather a human hero.

The poem captures the essence of a society heavily reliant on technology and the vulnerability that comes with it. It explores themes of chaos, disorder, and the potential consequences of a technological breakdown.

The emergence of a hero figure offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that human ingenuity and expertise can ultimately triumph over such challenges.

In another vein, as someone who likes psychoanalysis:

The imagery of being caught in a web suggests entanglement and a sense of being trapped, reflecting a psychological state where individuals feel ensnared by the complexities and demands of modern technology. The buffering bugs and hungry mobile robots represent disruptive and voracious forces, potentially representing the negative aspects of technological advancement that threaten the stability of our psyches.

The chaos and disorder that emerge from the technological breakdown reflect the eruption of the collective unconscious into consciousness. The flashing hard drives and crashing computers signify a rupture in the collective psyche, disrupting the established patterns and structures of society. This disruption causes anxiety and fear among the viral users, symbolizing the widespread unease and uncertainty that can arise in times of crisis.

[William Michael Reeves]

Here is my response:

Wow!

I think that is one of the most understanding reviews I've ever received! Are you sure you aren't AI?? ChaptaEP perhaps? If I may use a Martian phrase, I believe you grok my poem.

Thanks. I'll be checking out your art, both visual and written, soon. Thank you Mr. Robles.

Bill

[E.P. Robles]

I'm just me. I spend a LOT of time reviewing poems. I write a LOT of poems. Thank you for thinking I am AI. hahahaha

[E.P. Robles]

Do you like my art work: Numeric Man? No AI did that.

[William Michael Reeves]

There is nothing artificial about your art at all!!! Color Fall, and Tube vortex DNA really caught my eye. Mystical walk was the kind of image a poet could sink his pen into. Gotta admit I liked Floral Curves too. Simple lines so well formed! Just to look at, I didn't really like Numeric Man l or ll. I liked Numeric Woman though. But I see the slight resemblance. Informatic man makes the maidens in digital distress swoon with his bulging synapses.

Here I come E.P. can't wait to read you!

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree William. Stop electric. Countries will fall.
"Complete analytical chaos crashed
computers 'cross a planet under threat;
disorder driven deep when hard drives flashed,
caused viral users everywhere to fret"
The above lines. I seen happen in the Army. Old computers became useless. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[William Michael Reeves]

Sometimes seems the new becomes the useless old soon after it's new in an exponential cycle. Thanks Coyote

[Nima.Hope]

Hi William, I hope everything is fine with you. This poem is very cool in my opinion. There are few poets who write about technology and are interested in subjects like Informatics. As much as I know from your page here, you are a fan of mysteries, puzzles and codes, so am I. Nice job Bill.
P.S: I'll be honored to have a review of yours on a poem of mine.
Best wishes
Nima

[William Michael Reeves]

Thank you Nima. I really enjoy the puzzle aspect of poetry. Creating unique forms or expressing myself within classic forms like a Sonnet. Finding a poetic voice for subjects that might be less than poetic. And learning something researching like I did with informatics. I appreciate your attention, thanks.

The honor would be mine Nima. I was reading you a few days ago and couldn't find time to do a proper review. Hang tight! I'm coming ...

[Nima.Hope]

I like people who are curious for knowledge and riddles . It's a real fun to solve a puzzle or even to creat one!
Thank you sir. The pleasure is mine

[willweb]

Look! Up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a...wait, what exactly is that?
Meanwhile, down a dark trash littered alley a meek and mild-mannered hard drive is being assaulted. "Oh woe is me, won't someone, anyone, anything save me? Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion. Same Informatic time, same informatic channel.
That was fun and so was the story of its creation. Are you sure he didn't come from Kryton?

[William Michael Reeves]

Faster than 10G is he. Able to leap to speeding solutions! Informatic Man does wear a digital cape made of ones and zeros. His mask fits tight on his mind so all the damsels in distress sitting at their frozen keyboards, swoon when they see his bulging synapses. He may have stowed away in the computer on Jarel's ship when they left the cryptic planet of Krypton.