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Jeffrey Zable

The Artificial Encounter


I recently met a guy who told me he was artificial,

but intelligent nonetheless.


“Each of us is artificial in certain ways,” I responded.

“I must say that I appreciate your honesty!”


“No! you misunderstand me! I’m not the same as you.

I was born in a laboratory, created for a certain purpose.”


“Well, it’s good to have a purpose!” I acknowledged.

“Out of curiosity, do you ever feel depressed, sad, anxious,

or forlorn?”


“Have never felt what you mentioned, but I will malfunction

without periodic maintenance. It’s a necessity for me to maintain

artificially!”


“I do understand!” I answered. “And I must admit that I envy you

because I often feel depressed, sad, anxious, and forlorn.

It’s all a part of the human condition in varying degrees.”


“Sorry to hear it!” he responded, before sticking out his hand,

which I accepted artificially . . .




About Jeffrey Zable:

Jeffrey Zable is a teacher, conga drummer/percussionist who plays

for dance classes and rumbas around the San Francisco Bay Area,

and a writer of poetry, flash-fiction, and non-fiction. His writing 

has appeared in hundreds of literary magazines and anthologies,

more recently in Chewers & Masticadores, The Gorko Gazette, 

Recesses Zine, Cacti Fur, The Hooghly Review, Uppagus, and many others. . .

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