THREE WORLDS OF MEMORY

The Information Age and memory

You keep a memory in three competing worlds.

Digital:
     Scientists in white lab coats
     engineered a world
     that flawlessly remembers all your inputs,
     your memory outsourced to a secure location,
     like what a child thinks heaven is like,
     where you ask God every question you ever wanted.
     Until one day,
     the server crashes,
     or power is lost,
     and the screen goes dark.

Paper:
     Since the time of the Han
     the sheets have been there
     reliable, tangible, unfiltered,
     open to the page,
     and the words are the same
     as yesterday,
     the same as today,
     and will be the same tomorrow.
     A dense treatise, today's newspaper, a 3x5 card;
     you carry paper memory like a security blanket.
     until one day
     you misplace it
     and it gathers dust on a shelf.

Biological:
     You and your synapses are
     the ever present device.
     You could be naked on a desert island
     and it would be there with you
     all you need to do
     is exercise its muscles--
     no external source
     no object to hold
     nothing to lose
     till one day
     you forget.

Reviews

[A. Amos]

Your poetry is very logical yet thought provoking. I enjoyed reading your work!
Thanks for sharing.

[Jeannear]

very nice and well written

[Rosalind Gale]

Rock. Paper. Scissors.
This is intriguing - I was left to mull the words, what fits how, and why. I wondered if I was dreaming up a metaphor, or if it was there. So, the poem had multiple effects, like a dying memory, yet one that maybe easily recalled given the right medication, or right time. Thank you for this poem.
-x-

[Joyce S. Greene]

Excellent, rutherford. I enjoyed your thoughts on memory very much.

[Neon]

What a great Imaginary, am really very thrilled to read this piece. It's a great poem that's totally captured some real moments or thoughts of the life. I loved the piece.

[Jwakefield]

This is really incredible. Fantastic writing.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

I love this, Rutherford. You explained it beautifully well. And it's the first time I came across this topic so...more points to your originality. ;)

[EmaleighLynn]

This is a very thoughtful piece! It really makes me think about the three types of "memory." I like how you tell how each can be erased/forgotten as well.

[Lydia Shutter]

What a unique write this is! How well I remember writing bits and pieces of information on 3 x 5 cards before compiling a term paper. That's really not necessary today....progress? Not sure, but it is definitely change and that is something we have to learn to deal with. Even with digital memory, we have to remember how to access it, don't we? Your poetry is thought provoking and very worthwhile. Lydi**

[rutherford]

Thanks for the review--looking to share a unique perspective. I'm still very loyal to paper memory.