It’s like a brain
but flat
they say,
with no skull to keep it warm.

You talk to it
and it answers,
but it doesn’t
really
know.

Like when you smile
at the man in the shop
even though
you don’t remember his name

It’s clever,
but sometimes
gets the cat’s name wrong
or thinks you live
in Canada.

Can it love?
you ask.

The child shrugs.

It depends on
what you mean
by love.