Years ago, humans picked cherries from the trees in Door County, Wisconsin
Until the owner bought a machine
that shook the bejeezus out of the entire tree
The workers no longer harvest the cherries (10,000 every harvest. Humans, not cherries. Ten. Thousand. Workers.)
The humans used to fill an office with the clickclack of typewriters
They typed flawlessly (because there was no white-out yet)
They used carbon paper and typed triplicate copies
They took dictation and cleared up the boss’s abysmal syntax
There were 36 women in my mom’s office, they fed their families, they cared for their parents, all on that salary
Until computers
Now, that roomful of women have become maybe 2 apps on your smartphone
The human stands at an easel
regards the subject (whose face is so beautiful…)
and renders the model’s very essence onto canvas
then, because art is a business, they upload it onto their Instagram
Until A.I. gets hold of it, spits out an image
something like the original, except there are no edges, only eerie smoothness
The artist spent years honing their craft; they spent massive amounts in art supply stores,
hired the model, rented the space, but most importantly
The artist puts their soul into the craft
And now Artificial Intelligence has stolen their work without recompense
And now Artificial Intelligence can steal my work, your work, everyone’s work
AI can steal your face, your voice, and it won’t ask permission
And for the CEOs, it will be justified as “streamlining the organization”
AI doesn’t need days off or vacations
AI doesn’t need health care
AI doesn’t need paid time off for the birth of a baby
AI doesn’t vote, so politicians don’t have to worry about consequences, like they did with those pesky unions and such
AI doesn’t need a cafeteria, office space, none of that
AI only needs access to an environmentally hazardous amount of electricity, plus obscene amounts of water to cool the jets
A.I. NEVER SLEEPS
AI has no conscience, no face, no creativity
Humans create. Humans relate to one another. Humans breathe.
AI is just a xerox machine that vomits
© 2025 Sharp Little Pencil/Amy Barlow Liberatore
For the blog What’s Going On, the prompt was Being Human.
Sharp Little Pencil 
jaerose37
what a wonderful description and analysis of what is and what was – I am glad we are all still writing in the poetry world, keeping things real – Jae
jaerose37
What a wonderful plea – I am glad there are still women in the world typing our words and making a difference- Jae
Sharp Little Pencil
Jae, I am grateful to be in that company. We need our words more than ever.
Sumana Roy
Oh dear. Yes we’ve seen all these phases in every country. Being human is truly a blessing. I love that reminder at the end. Beautiful, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
We are most in touch with our humanity when we create!
Rall
A sad reality. Greed and profit rule the world. Robots and AI are cheaper to use than human beings. Scary stuff ! A not so Brave New World awaits us.
Excellent poem.
Sharp Little Pencil
The Brave New World certainly cuts both ways. Sometimes, I rejoice in the evolution – I am thinking especially of my Luka being able to come out and embrace their journey, something that wouldn’t have happened in the past. But other challenges have been set, and I’m not sure I am ready for them. Thanks, Rall.
jammy7000
And it all contributes to a plastic, ersatz, virtual reality devoid of empathy, compassion, love, deep understanding, wisdom and boundless creativity. Maybe we need a COVID that will infect AI? With no vaccine!
Nick – Intelliblog
Sharp Little Pencil
Nick – ha! Let’s start on that “virus” right away. But yes, life is getting to be more plastic and less flesh-and-blood by the day. Thanks!
susanstoo
Wow! You nailed the AI threat in this poem, showing it as the next step in the progress that has replaced humans. I used to worry that power might go out, but it may be the only cure for AI–disem”power”ment.
“The artist puts their soul into the craft
And now Artificial Intelligence has stolen their work without recompense”
Sharp Little Pencil
Susan, thanks so much. I also saw a comment from Nick that we need a “virus” to infect A.I. I would fund the research!
Sherry Marr
Wow, Amy. You always tell it true, and so powerfully. The human toll technology has taken is enormous. And add to that how the web has spread conspiracy theories and false “news”, and convinced so many has turned life in the wrong direction. Not much critical thinking going on these days. The thought of those cherry trees being shaken (traumatic to the trees) really stays with me. No kindness, even for cherry trees any more. So glad you linked at What’s Going On. I love that you are writing again.
Sharp Little Pencil
sherry, I did want to include that facet of trauma to the trees, but I couldn’t get it to work. You are so right. It’s almost like karma – we shook the trees, and now A.I. is shaking ours.
Alexander Liberatore
“AI is just a xerox machine that vomits” Amen.
Sharp Little Pencil
Wow, you sound so cute. Wanna meet up for coffee? LOLOL
Mary
Amy, this was truly chilling…progressively chilling all the way through. So many examples of the ways things have changed for humans during our lifetime. The blessings (perhaps) and the curses. AI can be used for good or for bad. This morning I asked AI for a recipe for egg salad, and it came up with a wonderfully creative recipe using chickpeas and tomatoes as well. So I was happy. No need for recipe books any longer. Just ask AI. I was up in Door County a couple weeks ago. When I was a kid we used to go up there sometimes and PICK cherries. Such fun. I guess it is easier to harvest these cherries with such a machine. And with the way someone is going after immigrant labor, I don’t know who they would find to pick cherries any more either. Sigh. You always come up with thoughtful poetry Amy. Poems that make us think.
Sharp Little Pencil
Mary, thanks for a thoughtful reply. I had a feeling you knew about Door County. I love the Midwest. And yes, it’s easier to harvest with a machine, but man, all those folks out of work. And ICE is making life hell for migrant workers.
There is a wonderful debate happening all over the world about the pluses and minuses of A.I. I am pretty stubborn in my objection. Maybe it’s because I’m an old hippie. Or maybe I am entering a Luddite phase.
fireblossom32
While I do find my laptop’s AI assistant a better option than Google when I want to find something, I hear ya, girl. I already feel like an anachronism as someone who loves and cares deeply about poetry. Now original writing and even the capability of creating it may vanish altogether as more and more people become too lazy to put in the work and let AI do everything.
Sharp Little Pencil
Shay, as a little experiment, I asked ChatGPT to create a poem “in the style of sharplittlepencil.com” and it cranked out a reasonable assemblage of my poetry in two seconds flat. And asked me if I wanted a work by the same poet on another subject.
IT SCARED ME TO DEATH.
fireblossom32
That is scary.
Susie Clevenger
So so true. AI has no heart, soul, or talent. It is a collector, mixer, and regurgitator.
Sharp Little Pencil
The saddest part is that non-creatives will accept the AI alternative. A surprising number of people have practically no idea of what real art is.
Sharp Little Pencil
PS Style Points for “collector, mixer, and regurgitator.” Well done!
purplepeninportland
A terrifying account of how our lives have become. I start to doubt all reality.