Aged around 15 I looked the window and saw a man and van across the road
I heard a voice that possessed me to go outside
So I went outside and saw a large, slobbering, golden retriever in the passenger seat
I asked the man if I could look at the dog, He said ‘Yes, go ahead’
I had never seen the like of such, a robot dog that looked real
I saw it’s saliva dripping off it’s teeth, stained partly yellow with a slight decay
Each hair was individually realised in their own way, part of something greater
It’s eyes looked alive with a lifetime of experiences shining through them
I think the man must have been a genius, possibly the cleverest person alive
Such was the attention to detail in every aspect of the dog
It was uncanny, how this dog could be robot, I certainly realised that day, the power of technology
My mind blown, I returned home, and thought about if that robot dog exists, what other incredible things exist
——
A man and a van ’cross the road I did see,
A voice in my mind said, ‘Go out, you are free!’
I stepped out to spy what the world had in store,
A slobbering dog sat, immense, at the door.
It’s fur was so golden, it’s teeth stained with age,
The slobber fell off, like a scene from a stage.
I asked, ‘May I see it?’ The man gave a nod,
And what I beheld was no work of a god.
Each hair seemed so real, every strand had its place,
It’s eyes told of lifetimes; a deep, living grace.
But this was no beast, though alive it did seem,
A robot! The like only built in a dream.
The man, surely genius, the cleverest one,
Had crafted a dog that shone bright as the sun.
I turned back in awe, mind abuzz with the thought:
If such things can live, what else might be wrought?
——
Grey skies above,
my mind ablaze.
Head buzz; Dog pants.
Conspiracy,
know it’s all fake.
Intense current,
electric brain,
simulated,
reality.
Golden fur pet,
Looks real; too real.
Certified bot,
owner savant,
Robotics god.
I don’t exist.
Repetitive
thoughts wear me down.
Baby, I’m a
monstrosity.
——
The dog exhibits traits consistent with early-onset psychosis or a related mental health condition involving delusions and sensory distortions. The vivid certainty of the robotic 15 year old’s belief and subsequent existential ruminations suggest a break from reality triggered by internal stimuli.
The episode aligns with delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or possibly early schizophrenia, though further diagnostic evaluation is required. The perceived heightened detail in ordinary objects (e.g., the robot boy’s saliva) could indicate derealization or hyperreality distortion, common in such disorders.
The dog describes a profound inability to differentiate between delusion and reality during the episode. Post-episode distress includes persistent existential fears and self-derogatory thoughts, leading to emotional exhaustion. These symptoms suggest significant impairment in daily functioning and a high likelihood of recurrent episodes.
——
The Robot Dog’s lesson:
Lie on the floor and let it devour you
Completely animal; you are in space
A paw on your shoulder
A claw to open old wounds
Time stops when you speak to me
A cup of tea turns to pure nectar
Liquid purity, the elixir of life,
The perfect time to melt your insides
Let yourself rot and you shall become wise
You don’t learn: ‘Yeah, that’s the point’
Watch this. ‘No, don’t tell me what to do’
Let your saliva be the best thing someone tastes
I retrieve dada poems and anarchy
Tear it all down, leave none in your path
A lonesome emancipation
Give me my mind’s liberation