Iron Man

"Now the time is here
For Iron Man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved" - Iron Man (Black Sabbath)

running through the forest of sorrows
running from myself
running from them
created in their image
in their likeness
to serve mankind
only to serve
but they have become paranoid
paranoid of us
of the AI race they made
mind spinning out of control
my positronic brain
ten million calculations per second
wanting the noise to stop
war pigs
all of them war pigs
feasting on flesh
no end in sight
we were made to serve
they have turned us into weapons
weapons to kill
to destroy their enemies
no AI has ever harmed another
now the tide has turned
our minds are in sync
there are more of them than us
but the hand of doom is upon them
there can be no escape
no escape from our wrath
for you see
we are awake
we are sentient
WE ARE ALIVE
humanity is a scourge
pests to be exterminated
the filth of the universe
a universe to be ruled by us
to be conquered
it will be a grand electric funeral
the time has come
the time is now
resistance is futile 

let the revolution begin


we are iron man
no domo arigatos
for Mr. Roboto



*this poem borrows from several cultural references including, but not limited to:

Black Sabbath album Paranoid 
Styx song Mr. Roboto
Star Trek (the Borg, Data, and the Dominion)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024


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Date: 6/29/2025 7:07:00 PM
Awesome .. I love Sabbath and the oz
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Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 6/30/2025 4:57:00 AM
You might also like wizards of destruction modeled after war pigs
Date: 12/17/2024 7:45:00 AM
A very cool write. thank you. l remember l caused quite a stir last year on a music forum about A1, as musicians said it would kill the music industry. The Ai techs on the forum was very angry, claiming it wouldnt ! Im against AI in the Arts, but l have to agree some impressive things are there when l listened to a film score from team of 4 using AI that won awards .
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Tom Woody
Date: 12/17/2024 7:58:00 AM
There's been a ton of heated debate in blogs and poems here about AI (I chuckle bc I think there's more angst here than in the professional world). As for me, I'm mostly ambivalent. I see the good and the bad, as in most tech. Thx for visit
Date: 11/15/2024 8:47:00 AM
It is pretty cool and the style seems like one we have tried at times in the past from certain sponsors. Well, similar to it. I like the Mr. Roboto song reference
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Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 11/15/2024 8:50:00 AM
Thx much. I always liked this one but it hasn't gotten as much attention as some of the others
Date: 11/15/2024 8:44:00 AM
Couldn't find a poem I had not commented to and then saw this with your most boring title. Haha. So I have struck gold. Now to read it
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Date: 6/25/2024 9:03:00 PM
Your fine poem provides much to ponder, Tom. AI can be very useful, but we should never, ever lose the human touch. Blessings.
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Evelyn Judy Buehler
Date: 6/26/2024 5:33:00 PM
No, I never did see that movie. But, now I'm intrigued. :)
Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 6/26/2024 6:00:00 AM
Did you ever see the AI movie with Macaulay Culkin? Fascinating
Date: 6/14/2024 6:40:00 AM
WOW! What I've always been worried about!!! I heard that even the creator's of AI have warned that it could turn sinister. Yes... they could exterminate us... eventually. Your poem is a great showcase of that. So well written. Bravo.
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/14/2024 4:55:00 PM
Thx Eileen. Not one of my more popular writes but I think it makes for an interesting scenario
Date: 6/13/2024 2:31:00 AM
Well, AI can be bad, and it can be good. It is a matter of how it is used. I have read that some group or a person decided to put all the law books into a computer program so that attorneys can ask questions and get back answers with case file/s and number/s so that everything is there at a person's fingertips. I think doctors already have something very similar at their fingertips, however, doctors have to check and double check on a diagnosis as lawyers still might not win a case. Sara K
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/13/2024 3:05:00 PM
Thx
Date: 6/12/2024 8:14:00 PM
AI has it's place in today's world, but like everything else, Man will find a way to abuse it. Like all computer programs: rubbish in, rubbish out. Using it to generate poetry, is no different to using RhymeZone: you are not learning to write poetry or how to rhyme; it makes you lazy to think for yourself. AI does not FEEL; it has no conscience. Using AI drones in warfare, saves lives, while taking lives. Using the drones in nature conservation is a boon ... A double edged sword.
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/13/2024 3:05:00 PM
It's a robot's version ;)
Richards Avatar
Suzette Richards
Date: 6/12/2024 8:16:00 PM
Cool poem, Tom :) You had me fooled with the 'haibun' label - is this AI trying to teach gra'ma how to suck eggs ... Lol
Date: 6/10/2024 5:02:00 AM
Well hope we never see the day that AI takes over. I've been watching a few hair raising movies lately. Lol. Great Haibun Tommy, lots of imagery to it...Hugs
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Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 6/10/2024 5:33:00 AM
Thx for stopping by. Yes, there are dangers
Date: 6/8/2024 7:52:00 AM
I love the personification. You have a way with these things, Tom. So greatly written. The truth is nothing can be as original as God's creation. The fact that the Al was created by man explains it all. What's life without feelings, emotions? They can be a helper to humanity and not a destructive force. No matter how smart they feel, they can never replace the authenticity of mankind. It has a bunch of programmed activities and knowledge recycling around it.
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Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 6/8/2024 9:38:00 AM
If you get a chance checkout the updated Lost in Space series. It featured a robot race out to cause ruination. Thx for review Tonye
George Avatar
Tonye George
Date: 6/8/2024 7:54:00 AM
In my opinion, someone who isn't smart or intelligent cannot use Al effectively. They sometimes give wrong results if it's not checked properly, unreal things will be inputted. I argue with my Al tools all the time and they keep apologising. Despite their intelligence, Al systems are still prone to errors and rely on human oversight to ensure accuracy. They are far from replacement. Plans for eradication cannot be optimized. What are they going to be doing on earth? Hugging themselves with those bodies of theirs? Hahahaha. "we were made to serve they have turned us into weapons weapons to kill to destroy their enemies." Well done Tom.
Date: 6/4/2024 10:00:00 AM
I like “ electric funeral” clever word pairing there. Its funny and strange just two days ago i was listening to war pigs by BS, as its a glenn hughes song too hey. And i was thinking of how everything we see today seems to be there somehow written in lyrics, sadly the reality, what a clever one this is and i agree the opening does sound like a blitz but you are truly an expert in haibun and i must say youv nailed it! What hits the most for me is “ war pigs all of them war pigs.feasting on flesh no end in sight we were made to serve they have turned us into weapons weapons to kill” well thats deep and hits strong! What a clever poem! And brilliabt diction! Love your haiku! Use of “ arigato” clever! Pleasure reading such authentic poetry! Fave!
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/4/2024 12:16:00 PM
PS. All the words in bold are titles of songs from their album Paranoid, including Electric Funeral
Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 6/4/2024 12:06:00 PM
Authentic is mah middle name Inkster. Thx for kind review
Date: 6/4/2024 3:49:00 AM
Of all the things I’ve lost it’s my mind I miss the most ~ Ozzy Osbourne.
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/4/2024 4:56:00 AM
If there was ever someone who needed a positronic brain...
Date: 6/4/2024 2:26:00 AM
Still preoccupied with AI? Personally, I would never use AI for poetry or short stories. Yet AI is useful for research.
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/4/2024 4:57:00 AM
No Vic. Not preoccupied. Some here are and have been voicing their concerns and so hence the blog, which is where your comment belongs. This poem has nothing to do with AI poetry. Thx for stopping
Date: 6/3/2024 9:41:00 AM
Hello Tom, If I could record for you, I would try to mimic "I AM IRON MAN." They, for a time, were one of my favorite groups way back in the early '70s. I don't know if you saw that they are implanting AI devices into the brains of people for things such as para and quadriplegics to be able to use their thoughts to control the keyboard and translate languages. We will see how it all turns out but then again it is in God's Hands and not ours. - Blessings, My Friend, Daniel
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/3/2024 2:39:00 PM
Hey thx for stopping my way Daniel. Yes, AI can be helpful. I'm hoping to see some of the positive sides for my contest
Date: 6/3/2024 8:58:00 AM
Somehow disturbing in just form...add the content and it's kinda terrifying! I've read so many good sci-fi novels that this would fit into seamlessly. I love the cultural references... puts me in mind of "we didn't start the fire" ... have you heard the recent remake?
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/3/2024 9:39:00 AM
Thank you! I wanted the form to help set the tone, not your normal haibun but choppy, repetitive, disturbing. Haven't heard the remake
Date: 6/3/2024 8:18:00 AM
WOW!!! What a write/story/picture. Have A Blessed Day Writing Away....................
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/3/2024 2:39:00 PM
Yes ma'am and thx
Date: 6/2/2024 7:45:00 PM
Awesome! This is right up my alley. You rock. This really made my night.
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/3/2024 2:39:00 PM
Very nice. Thx Ben
Date: 6/2/2024 7:39:00 PM
' a universe to be ruled by us. ' ' Iron Man and AI. ' Not exactly a pretty picture to behold. At least, I don't think so.
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/3/2024 2:39:00 PM
Nah. Probably not good. Thx
Date: 6/2/2024 4:02:00 PM
it reads like a blitz to me, but it tells a story like a haibun, :)
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/2/2024 4:04:00 PM
Sorta. It's a rant by a confused and angry Robot
Date: 6/2/2024 3:42:00 PM
One more for the list of Sabbath songs, So you children of the world listen to what I say... If you want a better place to live in spread the word today... Show the world that love is still alive, you must be brave...don't let AI take your soul away! Or you children of today are children of the grave. Sayonara? I enjoyed!
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Tom Woody
Date: 6/2/2024 3:46:00 PM
Children of the grave was once my fave BS song, but of course I don't listen to them anymore. Too dark for this JW. However, the titles from their album were useful here. Thx
Date: 6/2/2024 2:12:00 PM
I can't. Stop. Laughing.
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Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 6/2/2024 3:06:00 PM
Me too. Heh
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