Literature and Technology

Paata Shamugia   |   September 3, 2024

I hurled a great novel by Camilo José Cela
at the night butterfly, smashing it against the wall.
Got it? Step by step literature becomes practical,
while technology tries to somehow take its place:

The iPhone fits the hand better,
seems to have surrendered to the shape of fingers.
Well, let’s not behave as ungrateful people,
but Camilo José Cela, we have to confess,
is better at killing butterflies.

Once I used to bring a paperback edition of Lasha Nadareishvili
to the bathroom
but then the super soft toilet paper appeared
(God bless high tech!)
and his books became useless.
That’s a pity, but what to do? That’s how
technology deals with literature.

I have nothing against my fridge from Bosch—
it freezes better than, say, Camilo José Cela,
but, to be honest, with a book titled The Family of Pascual Duarte
you can thoroughly ruin a complete family of butterflies.
Look, this is where its power lies—
in practice, in destruction… Who would expect that!?

I’m looking at the butterfly right now, like a speechless mourner.
It seems to have become the sacrifice of great literature.
I think we might be able to understand each other better now—
me and the butterfly.

Translated by: Manana Matiashvili and Kristian Carlsson