The illustration to Jaden Pierce's lead poem, "MAN THE MACHINE" is an excerpt from the Brazilian edition of a book by Italian-American intellectual Silvia Federici, entitled, "Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation", published in 2004. A caption describing the image printed on page 264 reads: "A revealing example in the new mechanical conception of the body in this German woodcut of the sixteenth century, in which a peasant is represented as nothing more than a means of production: his body composed entirely of agricultural utensils." The book is available online free from the publisher Coletivo Sycorax.
MAN THE MACHINE
Numerous inquisitive conversations have I had
Comparing man to but a machine
So often refuted yet I disagree with the norm
Working constantly mechanical like to me
Putting pieces back together by surgeons
Only difference is that we are waterproof
Heart, lungs, kidneys, liver
Merely replaceable parts
Blood types and transplants behind the scenes
Pondering silly ideas such as freedom
One is merely left to sulk with melancholy
TOUR
Walking rigidly reminds me of schoolyard games
Following the leader is confinement
Eyes darting at the sights intrigued as if seeing for the first time
Hoping for a chance to disappear and stumble upon a magical wardrobe transporting to Narnia
But then I come to realize I’m talking to myself again
Silly imagination
DIFFERENT
I watch people following the throngs
Yet I stand far aback feeling out of place
I watch people shop at the mall incessantly
And I amuse myself reflecting on the days I was interested in such activities
I go to the film sometimes
Only to have a different reaction from the masses
I watch people protest so passionately
Yet I only display passion through my tears
SOLITUDE
Isn’t it easier to be alone
Without judges or artificiality yet so uncommon in society
Rarely can one hear the silence
Searching for some quiet and comfort greater than the pillow
Different than the typical nine to five
Sweet solitude beckons me
Not a short vacation only to return
FLAPPER
Fun loving flappers scurrying around
Creating panic at the peaceful picnic
Outrageous disruption of societal values
Barrier breaking freedom untold of before
Independence is but a hoax as all are dependent
Gender fluidity now being pushed
Rambunctious opponents fight back in disgust afraid of unworthy change.
FUN
Futilely trying to change my habits
Frivolous lover of fun
How dreadful to serve a purpose
How ruthless to have servants
Abundant admirers corrupt lame waltzes deserving of the gallows
Rather balance a plate of uncertainty
Watching the kite but drift away
Jaden Pierce is an emerging Asian American poet and writer from the DC area. His poems 'Comparison', 'Rhythm' & 'Scare' will appear in Dreich Magazine. He can be found on Twitter @jadenpierce01 and Instagram @jdnpierce
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