R O B B I E (psychotronic love)

English [Shakespearean] Sonnet

R O B B I E

His tungsten frame and shell buffed gleaming bright,
sharp positronic brain with laser eyes,
each pinioned joint was smoothly torqued just right;
’twas said that Robbie is the perfect size,

to fit in every way in every place,
a robot needs to be to fill his tasks;
each wiring circuit made to interface,
so he’ll perform what anyone should ask.

They were surprised about the heart he grew;
“It was a miracle!” is what they said.
When Robbie met the lovely robot, Soo …
It’s then their polished chrome turned glowing red.

Who could have known two robots of their kind,
might ever meet and true love they would find?

Richard W. Jenkins
©2015

"1st PLACE WINNER!"

神人

in

Taiwan Robot Writer's Contest

(this rendition is for the Taiwan robot contest)

R O B B I E

他鎢框架'外殼拋光亮閃閃發光，

銳正電子大腦與激光眼睛，

每個pinioned-節順利扭轉恰到好處;

“第三世界'學院說，羅"是完美的大小，

以適應各種方式的每一個地方，

一個機器人需要做到這一點罷了，他的任務;

每個佈線電路做接口，

所以他將執行什麼樣的人應™問。

他'很驚訝有-他成長的心臟;

“這是一個奇蹟！”是他'說的。

當羅"遇到了可愛的機器人，秀...

它是那麼的拋光鍍鉻變成深紅。

誰能認識兩個同類機器人，

他�'可能會遇到真正的愛情�-�？

Richard W. Jenkins
©2015

Author's Note

"Robbie" is the main robotic character in a short story by science fiction writer, Isaac Asimov. It was his first robot story, and writing commenced on June 10, 1939. It was first published in the September, 1940 issue of Super Science Stories magazine.
My poem has no similarity to Asimov's robot, other than his coined name, "positronic brain", the idea that robots can love, and Asimov's Three Robotic Laws:
I. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
II. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
III. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

Constructive critique is always welcome. : )

Reviews

[Great Aunt Astri]

A fun write on a traditionally 'love' format. Had me feeling quite touched by these two young lovers. BUT, what frightening implications lie within this sonnet! If robots could feel and have emotions? They could also suffer and hate!!! I don't think there would be any hope at all for the human race. But I am glad you won first prise. It is a lovely perfect sonnet.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Dear Astri,
Your knowing, wise words and thoughts always touch me in some impacting way.

Warmest hugs, Dear Lady-Poet! ⁓ Richard ; )

[Great Aunt Astri]

Thank you Richard (I've been in hospital .... but back again, feeling better than ever!)

[Richard🖌]

Hey, Lady Astri : )
How splendid to hear from you, and to know you're all better and raring to go!

Thanks for letting me know … big HUGS! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[...]

The tin man wants a heart :) The power of the need for love and companionship even makes humans of robots ...Very unique. Made me smile, dear poet...see> :---)

[Richard🖌]

Aw, Lynn, you are so very sweet! ; )
I guess it's true … when a heart knows and feels the enthrallment of love and all it sensational bliss, it becomes easy to project it all onto and into most anything and anyone … yet, to write a robot love Sonnet … I dunno, I've never seen or heard of it before, and I can imagine it is quite rare, because the thought is so weird … LOL!
Thank you, M'dear … you gifted me a smile, too! 〜 Richard

[𝐋.𝐂.]

Great love story ~~
Also, the last sentence. "Who could have known two robots of their kind,
might ever meet and true love they would find?" ,the translate is a little starge, maybe you can changed to ➡ 誰會想到像他們兩個這樣的機器人 會遇見他們尋找的真愛

[Richard🖌]

Ah, most lovely praise for this highly unusual Sonnet of robot romance.
I bow to your expertise and shall, therefore, change the final line for a better fit.

Thank you most gratefully! 〜 Richard

[1VJ]

Definitely not your run-of-the-mill sonnet, like the fantasy theme. I wonder was mind control an underlying attraction.

Google translate popped up, it's pretty close too, just a few funny twists, like 'When Luo "encountered a cute robot, show ...' Entertaining piece!

[Richard🖌]

Thank you Paloma! : )
I am happy you selected this oddly-cute (but weird) piece to read and review … it is inspiring, too, to know you were entertained.
I am interested in "I wonder was mind control an underlying attraction." Will you, please, tell me more about what you mean, so I can address with you?
Yes, I, too, read the translation, but Google does not literally or correctly give a proper translation in all circumstances, and I actually laughed out loud when I read it.

I really enjoyed your review … thanks again! 〜 Richard

[1VJ]

Yes I know Google is notorious for messing up translations. :)

It was an article I read on psychotronics, about the study of parapsychology, it mentioned mind control and other research programs, if I find it, I'll send you the link. The pleasure was mine!

[Richard🖌]

I have read no articles about the topic you describe, Paloma, but I believe I first came across the term "psychotronic" in an Isaac Asimov book titled "I, Robot", as well-as, the term "positronic brain". Coincidentally, his robot was named Robbie.

[...Relic...]

The Alan Parson Project (a rock group) made an album called I Robot.

[1VJ]

Haven't read the book, sounds interesting. I found the article, it's Wiki, about as reliable as google translate. :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotronics

[Richard🖌]

Interesting, Paloma (this is your name?).
The novel by Asimov, I read as a kid in the '50s, and when the movie of the title (starring Will Smith) came out a few years ago, I was thrilled, but it had no similarity to Asimov's "I, Robot".

[1VJ]

Indeed it is. I saw the movie too, love Will Smith, films don't usually follow the manuscript.

[...Relic...]

Asimov used to write for a magazine called OMNI in the eighties.

[Richard🖌]

In the first paragraph, where they state that the term ""psychotronic" was coined in 1967, by blah-blah is incorrect, as I know Asimov wrote it in his '50s book, and may well have coined it, too, but I do not know, and yes, Tim, I've heard the song … not so bad, but predictable. : )

[1VJ]

Hey, I warned you it wasn't reliable. :)

[...Relic...]

...........The song?

[1VJ]

Nooo, Wikipedia.

[...Relic...]

haha, lol, no, I was referring to what he said about the song. What song are you referring to Richard?

[Richard🖌]

Oh, you said "album, Tim, but there is a song titled "I, Robot" and that is what I was referring to.

Paloma? Is this your name, or a pen name?

[1VJ]

I was named after Anne Paloma Ruiz-Picasso y Gilot, if I was a boy I would have been Claude, also a Picasso. My mother was obsessed. :)

[Richard🖌]

I think I shall call you "Dove", unless you slap me silly … LOL!

[1VJ]

Why Dove? I'd never slap you, unless, you know. :)

[Richard🖌]

Ha-hahhh!
I love a woman with a sense-of-humor … well, I love women! ; )

Paloma translates as "Dove", and I think it is beautiful … that is why.

[1VJ]

I have a sense of humor and a temper, ask my ex. :)

I wasn't aware, thanks for the info. Dove, I like that.

[Richard🖌]

I like it, too … in fact I just reviewed one of your lovely poems and addressed you as Little Dove.
Okay, I'm ducking … LOLOL!

[terry smith]

interfacing under carnal knowledge....nice poem Richard, I wouldn't change a thing!! bravo!-Terry

[Richard🖌]

I knew there had to be a proper term for it, Terry … LOL!
Hey, thanks for the compliment, encouraging input, and kudos, My Friend! 〜 Richard

[mattavelli]

Hey, Richard, this is great. It's definitely weird. Haha... A beautiful love story.
"a robot needs to do that fills his tasks;" -- I reread this line a few times and it stumped me.
Do you read Chinese, Richard?

[Richard🖌]

Ha-hahhh!
Matt, I knew this one would strike your funny-bone and your distorted sense-of-humor.
Yeah, that line doesn't say what's in my mind to anyone but me. I did a bit of torquing and buffing on it … how about it now?

I do read Chinese, Matt, I just haven't the foggiest what it says … LOLOL!
Thanks, My Friend, for your great review to this unearthly bizarre Sonnet! 〜 Richard

[mattavelli]

Hey, Richard, it reads better now. :)
Chinese it a tough language to learn. I can read pinying fairly well, but maybe only twenty of the characters. I lived in jiangsu for seven years.

[Richard🖌]

You're an interesting dude, Dude! : D