All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace (poetry collection)

All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace is a 2006 poetry collection by American poet Richard Brautigan. Published posthumously, it gathers poems from Brautigan's previously unpublished manuscripts and notebooks, offering a glimpse into his creative process and recurring themes.

The collection's title, taken from a poem of the same name written in 1967, presents a utopian vision of a future where humans and machines coexist harmoniously, freed from labor and suffering. This idea, though presented with Brautigan's characteristic blend of irony and sincerity, explores themes of technology, nature, and the human condition that permeate much of his work.

The poems within the collection showcase Brautigan's distinctive style, characterized by short, often whimsical verses, surreal imagery, and a focus on everyday life. Recurring themes include love, loss, loneliness, nature, and the anxieties of modern society. The poems are often fragmented and impressionistic, reflecting a sense of disorientation and alienation.

While some critics view the posthumous publication of unpublished material as potentially problematic, All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace offers valuable insight into Brautigan's literary development and provides further exploration of his signature themes. The collection sheds light on the complexities of his perspective, oscillating between hopeful visions of technological progress and anxieties about its potential impact on humanity.