By Robert Eugene Perry
A.I. Imitates Life
I can no longer tell if I am jacked into a real time simulation or a simulation of real time. Pulled into technology’s orbit cellular satellite of my soul, image enhanced beyond measure – attempting a play at real life, I pause my AI music stream – silence ensues. Is my real life enhanced by AI or has AI become my life, occasionally paused to assimilate data and attempt an attempt at communication? This world, beautiful beyond measure can so easily become just a backdrop to our constant needs, our feeds, scrolling past each fragrant flower missing nuance, romance, tender- ness, tangled up in a virtual web mess we miss our real chance at connectedness.
Dry Days
drought brought forth river bones, scattered stones – heron left for parts unknown. baked sun dried soil barely a trickle (snaking through) ducks feet hardly wet summer isn’t over yet grass along the bank brown and brittle. three days rain, river rises full belly flow and turn waterfowl return to fish soothing sound of rushing water smells moist and earthy under white swamp oak . some things cannot be repaired: shattered friendships, broken trust lines crossed, hearts rent – wheel of time circles round spate & dearth, ebb & flow death & birth, a fistful of earth and we’re gone.
reaching out
field of clovers glacial rock under stars teenage angst calling god on the carpet thousand questions rapid fire fill the void breaching silence pumping fist in defiance anger ebbs leaving sadness dissolution dawn is breaking driving home crooked smile.
Unsatisfactoriness
Suffering Is universal. Going within, observing My own dissatisfaction, yours Becomes distinct and personal – impersonally Distributed by the universe. And The only logical response To such unremitting Anguish is Compassion.
Entering Twilight
Less seen, seen less Shadows creep, sleep forms Fox stirs, barn owl calls Crepuscular, one and all In between, lesser known Clouds lengthen, dusk descends Ducks squawk, river rolls Gathering the gloaming in Breathe deep, drop down Time shifts, space bends Ancestors all around Slow down, the veil is thin.
Robert Eugene Perry is a native of Massachusetts and the author of five books. His most recent book of poetry Earthsongs, was published by Human Error Publishing in 2022.
Perry hosted a poetry group for disabled individuals at the former New England Dream Center in Worcester MA (USA), and has emceed the monthly Open Mic at Booklovers’ Gourmet in Webster, MA (USA) since May 2017.
He has had several poems published in Worcester Magazine, as well as Poetica Magazine’s Mizmor Anthology, NatureCulture’s Honoring Nature collection, National Beat Poetry Foundation & Friends Remembering Jack Kerouac on his 100th Birthday, and Soul-Lit: a journal of spiritual poetry. His short story In the Company of Trees was published by Wordpeace Journal.
As a metaphysical poet, he finds inspiration in nature and endeavors to draw connections between our higher selves and the natural world.
Academy of the Heart And Mind 
Thank you, Thomas, John & Jessica for the opportunity to present my work in your publication. Your name “The Academy of the Heart and Mind” attracted me right away, and I have been enjoying reading the daily entries. If anyone is interested in more of my work, my website is https://roberteugeneperry.myportfolio.com/ ~ Every blessing ~ Robert
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