A short story by Roger Zelazny, set well after the end of human life. It explores the difference between man and machine. My copy is from the textbook Thought Probes

Humans created their robotic assistants, and set them to building up the world for them. After they had all died, the robots continued to develop the world. Man had placed Solcom in the sky, and the Alternate, Divcom, beneath the ground. Divcom was to be activated only if Solcom was unable to function. After a stray atomic missile (during the final annihilation of the humans) damaged Solcom, Divcom began to work. Solcom managed to repair itself, and the strife began. Neither would accept the other's rule of the world. This set up a system of good-versus-evil, though neither were "good" or "evil", more like two brothers arguing.

Two agents of Solcom were named Frost and Beta. Frost controlled the northern hemisphere, and Beta the southern. Frost was curious about humans, as he had never seen them. He began searching for what was left of the human civilization, and one day met Mordel. Mordel was a servent of Divcom, but brought Frost books written by the humans, and discussed what he knew.

Frost ends up making a deal with Mordel (and subsequently Divcom) that Divcom would provide resources for Frost to try to become human. If Frost failed, he would join Divcom forever (kinda like selling your soul). The rest is a journey of discovery about what makes a human human. (apologies for previously giving away the ending, to both those new and familiar with the story)

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The title (and some decent quotes) come from A. E. Housman's poem A Shropshire Lad. Here is the bit from the story:

From far, from eve and morning and yon twelve-winded sky,
the stuff of life to knit me blew hither: here am I

...Now -- for a breath I tarry
nor yet disperse apart -- take my hand quick and tell me
what you have in your heart.

Thanks to tardibear for the link to the poem! The link was http:\\www.bartleby.com/123/32.html. Check it out for the rest. If someone (or I do) writes it up, I'll include that link here.

This is probably my absolute favorite short story/novella ever. I have it in the collection of Zelazny works entitled The Last Defender of Camelot. Mordel has already given a wonderful summary, I just wanted to add my wholehearted recommendation!

A couple more trivial points: Frost was created by Solcom. During his construction, there was a solar flare; Solcom can't remember what happened (he's orbital, so was affected) but when he came out of it, there was Frost, complete. This is why Frost has a name instead of a designation (like the Beta-machine).

Also, the last refuge of humanity was apparently in a South American town named Bright Defile.

I have just reread this story. It is excellent. I have a slightly different interpretation than Mordel:

Divcom and Solcom argue, each that the other should be deactivated (starting with Solcom):

 "You have achieved nothing.  You do not build.  You destroy."
  "No.  I build.  You destroy.  Deactivate yourself."
  "Not until I am irreparably damaged."
  "If there were some way in which I could demonstrate to you that this
has already occurred..."
  "The impossible cannot be adequately demonstrated."
  "If I had some outside source which you would recognize..."
  "I am logic."
  "...Such as a Man, I would ask Him to show you you error.  For true
logic, such as mine, is superior to your faulty formulations."
  "Then defeat my formulations with true logic, nothing else."
  "What do you mean?"
  There was a pause, then:
  "Do you know my servant Frost...?"

It becomes clear, indirectly, that Solcom and Divcom have made a Job-like wager with Frost at the center. Mordel is Divcom's agent, apparently designed to tempt Frost, yet help Frost. There are obvious parallels with Biblical stories.

I mostly agree with Mordel that the story is a "journey of discovery about what makes a human human." However, I would word it like this: "it is a journey of computers trying to discover what makes a human." Can a measuring, quantifying machine know what it means to be a man? In one of the many thoughtful scenes, Frost has created sensory devices like man's. Mordel leads him to a beautiful place on the California coast:

  "What do you see, hear, taste, smell?" asked Mordel.
  "Everything I did before," replied Frost, "but within a more limited
range."
  "You do not perceive any beauty?"
  "Perhaps none remains after so long a time," said Frost.
  "It is not supposed to be the sort of things which gets used up," said
Mordel.

Read the story, it is really great.