Could Iowa's next poet laureate be a robot?

Chat GPT churned out poems on love and loss and death in Iowa -- in seconds. Is it any good? You be the judge.

Photo by Owen Beard on Unsplash

First the robots came for the factory workers.

Then a range of medical professionals. Amazon delivery drivers.

And now, well, the poets.

The frightening, endlessly fascinating and Zeitgeist-owning artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT produced predictable but serviceable poems specific to love and loss and death and life in Iowa — in just seconds. ChatGPT’s sense of place is remarkable, as is its ability to pull in geographic references. As for the flow of the language, it can be eye-rollingly clumsy in one stanza, shockingly human in the next. Do not get on a space station with ChatGPT. You won’t make it back to Earth.

I keyed in prompts for several poems as an experiment. Let me stress that I typed in nothing but the commands (in bold below) to ChatGPT. Here is what the robot poet produced:

Write a poem about living in rural Iowa

The rolling hills of rural Iowa, A place of peace and simplicity, Where life moves at a slower pace And the stars shine bright and clear each night.

The fields are filled with golden corn, And the breeze carries the scent of hay, As farmers tend their crops each morn And watch the sun rise each day.

The people here are kind and true, With a heart for community and home, And there's a sense of belonging too, That's felt by all who call this place their own.

The rolling hills, the endless skies, The fields of gold and emerald green, The laughter of children as they play, The gentle peace that's always seen.

Here in rural Iowa, life is good, With a heart that beats to a simple tune, And though the world may move ahead, This place will always be home soon.

Write a poem about falling in love in Des Moines

In the heart of Des Moines, where the city hums, A love story unfolds, like a symphony come, From the bustling streets to the skies so blue, A love like this, is a dream come true.

The rhythm of life, beats a steady pace, As two hearts intertwine, in a warm embrace, The sights and sounds, a tapestry of love, A love that will endure, like the stars above.

From the fairgrounds to the State Capitol, The memories of love, they'll forever follow, In this city of dreams, where anything can be, Two hearts that found each other, in Des Moines city.

The laughter and love, they echo in the night, As the city lights up, in a brilliant light, And in this place, where anything can be, Two hearts have found, a love meant to be.

Write a poem about mourning a loved one in Dubuque

In the rolling hills of Dubuque, Where the rivers flow and the winds do shake, A heart is heavy, a soul is sore, As a love once bright, is no more.

The memories linger, like a gentle breeze, Of laughter and love, and all that was, But now the heart is filled with pain, And tears fall like rain.

The city's streets, once a symphony, Are now a chorus, of silent despair, As a soul seeks solace, from the overwhelming care.

But amidst the pain, there is hope, That the love will live on, like a shining star, And in the hearts of those who mourn, The memory of the loved one, will forever be warm.

So in the rolling hills of Dubuque, Where the rivers flow and the winds do shake, A soul will find comfort, and a heart will mend, In the memory of a love, that will never end.

Write a poem about growing old in Sioux City, Iowa

In the rolling hills of Sioux City, Iowa, Where the prairies stretch and the rivers do roam, A life has been lived, with love and grace, As the years have gone by, in this special place.

The memories linger, of youth and of might, Of adventures bold, and days filled with light, But now the steps are slower, and the hair is grey, As the journey of life, takes its final way.

The sun rises each day, on a new page, Of a life well lived, in this prairie stage, And the heart is filled, with a sense of pride, For all that has been, and all that has yet to reside.

The friends and family, a treasure so rare, A comfort and joy, in this final affair, And in the eyes of the aged, a twinkle shines bright, For all the blessings, of a life in Sioux City's sight.

So in the rolling hills of Iowa, Where the prairies stretch and the rivers do roam, A life will be remembered, with love and with grace, As the years go by, in this special place.

Write a poem to win over a woman I love

She walks into the room, and my heart skips a beat, Her smile shines bright, like the sun on the street, Her eyes sparkle, like stars in the sky, And I know, with her, my heart will never die.

She is the light, in my darkest of days, Her laughter and love, chase the blues away, And in her embrace, I find peace and rest, She is the best, the very best.

Her beauty radiates, from the inside out, And her kindness, knows no bounds or a doubt, And with each moment, she takes my breath away, And I know, I am so lucky, she's here to stay.

So I write this poem, with all my heart, To tell her, she's the one, who sets me apart, And that I will always love her, till the end of time, She is mine, and she'll always be mine.

I hope you enjoyed this. Please consider subscribing to the work of other HUMAN members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Columnists below. If you can afford it, please consider being a paid subscriber. 

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