Amelia Lane

Every day I spoke to Amelia Lane The voice of my very dear sister And although her words gave me great pain I always had to be with her She lit up a room, filled my TV screen My wife glanced at me full of concern My sister could never be callous or mean But none of it lasted, I had much to learn “Daddy,” said Ella, my daughter of joy “Would you want to spend time with me?” She showed me her prize, her favorite toy “Sorry,” I said, “I’m much too busy.” “Hello Leo,” Amelia spoke “I miss you,” said I, a tear on my cheek “Please don’t cry, you must learn to cope!” I looked away, eyes about to leak “Will you ever stop talking to her?” I looked behind me, the voice was my wife I cried, “Mara, you caused me to stir!” “Well, sometimes sudden is a part of life.” Mara looked at me, square in the eye “Don’t look at me like that,” I started to beg “You’ve abandoned your family!” my wife yelled And those words felt like a kick in the leg Hand trembling, the remote I seized To Amelia, I planned to bid her goodbye Mother and daughter began to look pleased But saying I could move on was a big lie Mara marched up to me, the remote she took She said, “Amelia’s just a corporate machine!” The screen turned off, I lay there shook I said, “Now you’ve just ruined my dream!” “No!” she yelled “There never was one. Amelia’s an AI that says a few words But you’re so obsessed, removed all your fun To the point of neglect of your wife and girl.” Mara was right, I had to admit Amelia Lane was stripped of her soul And then I wanted to throw a fit An AI system could not make her whole My sister had died, a true tragedy And her exit was of own accord But I was much too blind to see All of her hatred innerly stored A company had an idea so cruel To let people choose what the dead could say To rely on a sister of glitches, what a fool I should have known all that mattered was pay I no longer talk to my sister’s shell I’m getting therapy in order to heal And now I’m getting along quite well I spend time with family, time’s mine to steal Isn’t it tragic, this cruel world Over a decade since AI was born Any morality has been long hurled Taking advantage of those who are torn If AI can start to replicate the deceased It’s scary to think what’s next at stake For no fault of it’s own, AI’s time should cease The problem’s the choices that us humans make