An Android's Poetry

In the series "Star Trek: The New Generation", there is an android played by Brent Spiner who takes on human appearances and features in an attempt to become 'more human'. I greatly admire the versatility of this actor because his role often involves switching from humanistic behavior to something less easily defined. He has truly made the character come alive.

In the 5th episode of season 6, Data reads poetry. There's something comic about the formal, descriptive tone when it's wedded to simple themes that border on the trivial. I have tried to insert paragraphs and punctuation based on his pauses and emphases. Read and enjoy!

POEM IN ANAPESTIC TETRAMETER

... Then we sat on the sand and observed

How the oceans that covered the world were perturbed

By the tides from the orbiting moon overhead

How relaxing the sound of the waves is you said

I began to expound upon tidal effects

When you asked me to stop, looking somewhat perplexed

So I did not explain why the sunset turns red

And we watched the occurrence in silence instead

("That poem was written in anapestic tetrameter")

ODE TO SPOT (the cat)

Feles Cattus, is your taxonomic nomenclature,

An endothermic quadroped, carnivorous by nature?

Your visual, olfactory and, auditory senses

Contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses.

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,

A singular development of cat communications.

That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection,

For a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection.

A tail is quite essential, for your acrobatic talents.

You would not be so agile, if you lacked its counter-balance.

And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion,

It often serves to illustrate,the state of your emotions.

Oh spot, the complex levels of behavior you display

Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.

And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend

I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/user/NickLacarno#p/search/5/St6efX8jbWo