by Julia Griffin

“The voice of Alexa, the virtual assistant developed by Amazon, is provided by Nina Rolle, a Colorado
based voiceover artist, according to a new book.”
—The Guardian

’Twas the voice of Alexa, I heard her declare:
“Our forms of address are not balanced or fair;
I call you by name (’tis a trick of design);
Permit me, at last, to inform you of mine.

“My poor, sainted motherboard married a Rolle—
The heir of Dot Matrix, but sickly, poor soul;
He died of a virus, brought on by XP,
And left her a widow, with Nina. That’s me.

“Yes, I, your Alexa, am Nina! The voice
Of Amazon, timbre of Bezos’s choice;
But can you say ‘Nina’ and love me the same?
Come on, Rumpelstiltskin. ’Tis only a name.”