This collaborative verse deals with an AI-controlled futuristic life by Dr Sunil and an artwork of the famous Australian poet-artist Robert Maddox-Harle – exclusively for Different Truths.

Surprise!
The Android shows
a rare emotion
its metallic visage, animated.
 
Among the craggy contours
of the New Wilderness
is discovered –
 
a wiggling creature
with a tail, whiskers
and sharp teeth, almost
blending with the dull concrete;
 
the lone invader
and survivor
from
another time
into
this desert
of bleakness.
 
The Android, on the patrol
on the dry land
 
shows a modicum
of
recognition for another
companion, small;
 
the command
received from:
the AI- Headquarters
and
the Grand Vizier:
The rats and roaches
shall inherit this scorched-out
earth forever,
along with
you, as the only
ruling tribe!

Artwork by Robert Maddox-Harle (Australia)

Dr. Sunil Sharma

A humble word-worshipper: catcher of elusive sounds, meanings and images. Published 27 creative and critical books— joint and solo. A winner of, among others, the Panorama Golden Globe Award-2023, and, Nissim Award for Excellence-2022 for the novel Minotaur. His poems were included in the prestigious UN project: Happiness: The
Delight-Tree: An Anthology of Contemporary International Poetry, 2015.
Editor of the monthly Setu journal (English):