machines

When Brautigan wrote this poem several decades ago, computers have just been invented and were extremely rare. In this poem, he expresses his anticipation of the impact computers and future technology would have on society and nature. The tone of this can be interpreted in two ways, either as anti-technology, or as pro-technology.

Back then, it would have been easy to imagine that computers would change the world for the worse. Having organisms like “flowers with spinning blossoms” (15-16) in the forest would be bizarre. This makes it seem like technology has taken over nature and is replacing the organics. Instead of having technology and nature live together mutually, they have to be “programming harmony” (6), being forced to live together. The word programming is too technological and not natural. It is impossible and wrong to try train or instruct nature to become something it is not meant to be. Technology should always be under control and should never be left to take over society.

Brautigan sounds confident that one day “mammals and computers [will] live together mutually” (4-5). Unlike the current situation the world is in right now, where technology is eating away at the environment, there will soon be a happy median where nature and machinery is balanced. We will be “free of our labors and joined back to nature” (20-21). The benefits technology will have on us are so great that we would not have to work in the future. Nature and technology will be able to coexist where one does not overpower the other, giving us more time to enjoy the things we like.

I like to think of this poem as pro-technology because the title, “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” makes it apparent that Brautigan sees technology as a savior to humans. There is a reason why he titled it this and not “All Destroyed by Machines of Controlling Power”. The overall mood of this poem is optimistic of the future and I would agree with Brautigan that one day, the advances in technology will allow humans to have more freedom and not be restricted by work.