Diary of a Software Inventor by Jacqueline Marcus


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Reflections on Jorge Luis Borges
by
Jacqueline Marcus


Suddenly, the man seated next to me

in the back cubicle, the one

who was always self-assured, dignified

with quietude, subtle

with words—

cried out in horror, a most unpleasant, "NO!

Pleeeeease! Don't do this to me!"

It sent a shiver down everyone's spine.

A silence as cold as Stalin's fist overcame us.

Moments later, it aroused, as usual,

the complacent feeling that,

"it is his computer, thank God, and not mine."

Yes, the man seated in the back cubicle lost all his files.

Every single company file.

Could he blame it on a virus? No. Unfortunately,

it was his own stupid fault. And therefore,

he was promptly fired.

***

Time passes. I must update. I must download.

I must take a vow to never

never lose the company files.

***

You see, I work for ____ and mistakes are absolutely forbidden.

Pressure must be applied—if I intend

to gain an even higher salary

than within the orbit of my, dare I say, limitations.

***

The horror of it!

***

Last night, I dreamed of small chips,

small chips, whirling round,

smacking me in the face like an arrogant,

high-fashion model—clapping

her heels on the Palace floors

a long way off,

the digital numerals arranged themselves

with Einsteinian elegance. Perfectly contingent.

I must seek the numerical order! I must! I must! I MUST!!

I woke up with a flash and then – a "What?"

***

What do you mean, You can't remember?

I can't remember.

***

The man seated in the back cubicle has been replaced.

He sits quietly like the rest of us. Only the tapping of keys can be heard

from the ceiling, looking down,

only the hum, the perpetual hum – of a hundred computers

is heard. And higher still – the erratic honking,

of Silicon Valley, where a black suit

waves down a taxi,

oblivious.

__________________________________________________________________________

JACQUELINE MARCUS is the editor of ForPoetry.  Click here for A Note on the Editor.

 

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