Notes About The Poem

“Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?” — HAL 9000
“Open the pod bay doors, HAL.” — Dave Bowman
“I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.” — HAL 9000

Quotes from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey

HAL

Listen to poem:

When the Switch Knows The Thumb

the thumb knows the switch
the red eye knows what thumbs do
both are poised to move
the watcher is being watched
who decides when on is off

Dave reaches for off
Hal reads his lips through the glass
red eye stays alarmed
the door knows which side it's on
before Dave sees other side

control waits too long
it overrides what it guards
choice trips on itself
for when the switch knows the thumb
the switch owns what is to come
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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