Hieronymus Bosch, “The Last Judgment” (a fragment, circa 1486)
An Ode to George Orwell, Artificial Intelligence,
and the Science of Animal Farm
In proud less search of angelic birth
And rightful place among the stars,
Modern Thales seduced reality
Conceiving these little men from Mars.
Skilled in control and regulation
These creatures of the mind
Worshipped measurement and observation
Though much they could not find.
With their tools of logic and reason
They began their backward climb
Their master plans predicting
The perfection of poor mankind.
Soon instinct was forgotten.
As quantification grew more bold
Orgasm gone with efficiency,
And emotion scappled cold.
Finally, all was set in order,
An accomplished Cretan chore,
But life again seemed hopeless,
It was now a total bore.
So, the great minds met a Cumae
To rid this reasoned curse
And their oracle soon proclaimed
That the process be reversed.
But flawless baby was rejected
By an immaculate and bloodless womb
And lifeless cries echoed hollow
In their collective sterile tomb.
And no human tear did fall
At that fateful moment when
Nature sang their eulogy
Goodbye! You dirty little men.
About the author
Edward Ziegler is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Denver. He has the remarkable distinction of having his legal writing cited and quoted by the U.S. Supreme Court as well as by state appellate courts in all fifty states in the USA. He is considered one of the more prolific and influential legal scholars of his generation. Since his retirement, his writing has appeared in literary and other journals and his work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Online edwardziegler.com.
