Machines of "Loving" Grace

The first piece of evidence that made me think that this was an anti- technological poem was when he was talking about machines and animals living together in perfect harmony. I found this to be rather sarcastic seeing that this would be impossible. Also I find it sarcastic because it is seen through history that with the implementation of newer and newer technology, nature seems to be taking the brunt of the negative outcome via pollution or neglect.

The second main part of the poem which led me to believe that this poem was anti-technology was the last stanza. At this point in the poem, Brautigan had gone through and explained how he would love for nature and technology to be intertwined. But in his last stanza he changes his perspectives. near the end of the stanza he says that he wishes for a labor-free world where we can be with our brothers and sisters where we can all be watched over by machines “of loving grace.” To me, this sounds like he is wary of a “Big Brother” society where everything we do is watched over by cameras and computers.

On the other hand however, some aspects of this poem can be taken in another light. For instance that last line about being “watched over”. I feel it can mean that now that we do in fact have all of these new technologies we can leave all of the mundane tasks to them and we can now go outside and enjoy nature. Also he explains that he wishes for a society where technology and nature can co-exist in harmony. With the implementation of cleaner and “greener” technology coming out, I think Brautigan saw the pattern of technology and its environmental footprint when he wrote this and hoped for a day that technology won’t have to harm the environment. In this aspect I think that he is pro- technology and really truly wanted to see “clean technology,”

Personally I found this poem to be on the anti-technology side. The piece of the poem that made me think this were the first two stanzas which spoke of technology and nature living in harmony seemed very sarcastic. Seeing the past history of technological application and how it effects nature.