Posthuman

A poem written in 2010 — one possible glimpse of a posthuman: a facet of human technological evolution traveling at the speed of light, as light itself, from star to star.

I wrote a poem back in 2010 that represents only one possible extreme — or glimpse — of a Posthuman: a facet of human technological evolution traveling at the speed of light, as actual light among the stars. This image doesn't exactly represent that vision, but rather inspires the poem. Imagine instantiation in another state of being, body, or virtual medium, from star to star — and all the implications of that!

I am Human becoming A Transhuman to be My existence transforms itself through multiple substrates I am flesh of evolved genetics Technology cyborg robotic Digital virtual and neural simulation Networked information itself Yet I retain sentience through all my transformations I travel among the stars at the speed of light, and now faster still I am now immortal but not eternal Not all-powerful, for I still make mistakes — always learning, always exploring Time is only a measurement to me; I control my rate of consciousness I allow myself to feel happiness, sorrow, and compassion Respect for my origins, my emotions, so human-basic they are But I have become so much more now — my mind merges with others like myself On multiple levels of being we are On the verge of becoming we are Making love with thought . . . Posthuman I have become