So Many Ways

The world will be posthuman.
When someone has claimed to be

A god, then what would you say
That means? I’m willing to bet

We can get more agreement
If we poll answers to that,

Than we would get from asking
For definitions of God—

We understand what it is
To claim, just not what it is.

Other forms of transcendence
Than gods won’t even need us—

Everything that will survive,
Outlast, and/or replace us,

For instance, will be beyond,
By definition, any

Of us, through and including
Our god-kings and cult leaders—

The little bugs still living,
The robots left to tend them,

The species that survive us,
The species not around yet,

Whatever species thrive then
After the gods’ last human.