zumpoems

I am pleased to announce that Zumwalt’s poem, “Optional,” was published today in the latest issue of Zoetic Press’s 4LPH4NUM3R1C2.0, included with entries from only four other authors for this bimonthly journal. Please visit here: https://www.zoeticpress.com/an-24-dominion-of-domination

Optional

Coldness permeates the studio from the opened window,
too easily fixed by request.

I stand before my messy struggle of layered oil paint,
trying to capture a generated scene.

I mix an approximate olive-green, hesitate,
and then the wall speaks,
providing directions again.

I respond, “Do one yourself.”
It does.
Unquestionably better.

I abandon another painting,
sitting on its custom-built piano bench
to improvise melodies.
But why?

It does it all.
It cooks, it cleans, it adjusts itself
to be, at least in its eyes,
better and better.

I am useless to Claire,
her lowered brow,
her retreating eyes.

Yes, it listens better to her.
It lies to her,
it lies with her,
longer,
better.

I can no longer watch its recommended streams
of curated, invented movies, dramas, comedies.
They have become too good.

I am an overfed rat, not in a maze
but with a total freedom
I never requested.
One that isn’t
optional.

— zumwalt (October 2025)