First, we found the right rocks for the job.
Then, we broke the rocks into better shapes.
Later, we burnt the rocks to do new things.
Finally, we taught the rocks to think.
(Clever people, clever rocks)

One day, those rocks found us.
I wish we’d left the rocks alone.

Dr Sam Bowker is an art historian who also writes poetry, songs and very short stories. Sometimes these evolve into collaborative performances like “The Thief of Stars”, a experimental concert inspired by Egyptian medieval shadow theatre (khayal al-zill).