Squeeze me, tease me, please me! (On quantum compression)

Ben.

He rocks.

I remember

When

He showed me how to fit

A qubit

In a small box.

I wonder how it feels

To be compressed.

And then to pass

A fidelity test.

Or does it feel

At all, and if it does

Would I squeal

Or be just as I was?

If not undone

I’d become as I’d begun

And write a memorandum

On being random.

Had it felt like a belt

Of rum?

And might it be predicted

That I’d become addicted,

Longing for my session

Of compression?

I’d crawl

To Ben again.

And call,

“Put down your pen!

Don’t stall!

Make me small!”

John Preskill 9 May 2003