I wrote this poem in the early 90s, shortly after reading *Jurassic Park*. In 1996 I published it in the Usenet group rec.arts.poems, and later on one of my obscure websites. It is pretty much self-explanatory. Then, in the early oughties I read about [punctuated equilibrium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuated_equilibrium) in Lloyd Pye's book, *Everything You Know Is Wrong*, where he described it as if with any major extinction-level event on Earth (we're going through the sixth and largest right now): > [it] is first allowed to stabilize, then a life-carrying cosmos-cruising dumptruck comes along to unload itself and repopulate the planet. I don't know enough to sensibly discuss the scientific evidence regarding this view, so won't try. When I wrote the poem I figured they -- if they exist -- would be pretty pissed off with how we've treated all the work they have put in. Anyway, here it is: ## The Caretakers They came, you know, a few eras ago When the Earth was all oceans and rock They brought in some creatures with self-breeding features And started to build up some stock Computers and genes, life-changing machines Stellar indeed were their talents They came now and then to check up again They ensured that it all stayed in balance The dinosaurs rose on their armor-plate toes And fell after many millenia An incoming meteor? Maybe 'twas ET more? What was it that ended their tenure? Whatever that history, today there's no mystery With whole species disappearing from view When the caretakers come, as they always have done Should we fear what they're going to do?

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