Did AI Make My Poem More Compelling?
I wrote the following poem during a period of creative overflow in 2015 as a college student for Taking Refuge Uttering Spoken Truths (T.R.U.S.T.):
Advice from a Sagacious Scholar Who Knows Nothing and Claims No Wisdom
Have you ever been given some so-called “useful” advice that ended up troubling you in the end? I for one have experienced this too many times to count, and even though sometimes it has helped turn my situation around, a lot of the time it has infuriated, frustrated, or even manipulated me for the worse. So I thought I’d try and take a stab at giving you some “useful” advice to see how it impacts your life.
Growth is a natural part of life that no one can rebel against. Ensure that you are deep-rooted in your faith, for this will ensure an infinite well of spiritual enrichment.
Never trust a man who makes a guarantee, for misfortune is an odd stranger to him. Put your faith in a man who makes few promises but earnestly carries them to fruition.
We all truly know nothing about what each other is feeling, experiencing, hurting from, or has been through to be able to judge them wholeheartedly. If you do judge others, judge them as being the best person that they can be in their particular situation.
The man that fishes every day may catch some fish one day and may not catch anything the next. Eventually that same man will catch an increase tenfold of what he ever expected at the very fishing hole that he was once convinced had been dry of supply.
When you love someone, love them honestly and earnestly without withholding any truth, for it will grow into a rainforest of magnanimous beauty, pouring done life-changing blessings.
Charity starts at home, and home is where the heart lives. Lead your life knowing that your heart is in the right place, and you will bless every person around you with your philanthropic attitude.
Self-doubt is a mean-spirited enemy of the subconscious. Tirelessly strengthen your heart, and your mind will follow the lead to finding a better self-esteem, a wealth of self-confidence, and a higher purpose for serving the Lord.
God’s grace and mercy is unconditional, meaning that you shouldn’t lose your key to the gateway of heaven. Lose your selfish desires, your resistant stubbornness, and your sinful spirit and beg God for his forgiveness, for permanently forsaking God is ultimately an unforgivable, criminal act.
Money is a material made by man. Therefore, the value of a dollar is an earthly concept. This means that no man can buy his way to the spiritual realm that we call heaven, no matter how much money you’ve earned over your life and/or how much you’ve egotistically donated to charity.
No man knows the day, nor the hour, nor the minute, nor the second, not even a millisecond. We should treat every moment like it’s our last and love those with a desire to truly resemble Jesus’s kindheartedness.
Humility is a perfect quality that every person on God’s green earth has. Be sure to show more humility when you find yourself in a situation of power, for God will smile down on you for being a bundle of humble.
Lastly, People are more precious than a perfectly cut diamond on a golden, jewel-encrusted crown lost deep in the sea of priceless prosperity.
I then asked ChatGPT-3 to deconstruct the poem to see if it understood it's meaning:
The poem "Advice from a Sagacious Scholar Who Knows Nothing and Claims No Wisdom" is a collection of pearls of wisdom meant to inspire the reader towards growth, faith, honesty, charity, and humility. The title of the poem is itself a paradox, suggesting that true wisdom comes from acknowledging our limitations and embracing our humility.
The first stanza reminds us that growth is an inevitable part of life, and encourages us to deepen our roots in faith to find spiritual enrichment. The second stanza warns against trusting those who make grandiose promises, and advises us to put our faith in those who make fewer promises but follow through on them earnestly.
The third stanza emphasizes the importance of avoiding judgment towards others, since we can never truly know what someone else is feeling or going through. We are encouraged to judge others as the best person they can be in their particular situation.
The fourth stanza tells a story about a fisherman who consistently fishes despite not always catching fish. The message is to persevere in our pursuits, as we never know when our efforts will bear fruit beyond our wildest expectations.
The fifth stanza emphasizes the importance of honesty in love, and suggests that genuine love will grow into something beautiful and life-changing.
The sixth stanza advises us to prioritize charity and generosity in our own homes, as this will extend outwards to positively impact those around us.
The seventh stanza warns against self-doubt, and encourages us to strengthen our hearts in order to boost our self-esteem and confidence.
The eighth stanza highlights the idea of God's grace and mercy being unconditional, and reminds us to seek forgiveness for our mistakes and shortcomings.
The ninth stanza stresses that material possessions hold no value in the spiritual realm, and that true worth cannot be bought with money.
The tenth stanza reminds us to cherish every moment and to show love and kindness towards others, as we never know when our time on earth will end.
The final stanza concludes the poem with the powerful message that people are more valuable than any material object, no matter how precious.
Overall, the poem encourages the reader to live a life of faith, honesty, humility, generosity, and kindness, while cautioning against judgment, greed, and materialism.
Lastly, I asked the AI to write a compelling version of this poem.
Advice from a Sagacious Scholar Who Knows Nothing and Claims No Wisdom
Listen closely, my dear friend, to the words I share with you, words of wisdom without end, spoken by a sage who's true.
Growth is natural, don't resist, embrace your faith, let it thrive, and your spirit will persist, as you keep your hopes alive.
Never trust a guarantee, it's a stranger to misfortune, instead, seek sincerity, a promise kept is opportune.
Judging others is a mistake, for we don't know their story, look beyond what eyes can take, see their glory, their true glory.
The man who fishes every day, may catch little or may catch much, perseverance is the only way, to fulfill life's bountiful touch.
Love with honesty and truth, let your heart pour out its essence, beauty will grow, both in youth, and in age, love's luminescence.
Charity starts at home, my friend, let your heart be your guide, and blessings will never end, flowing from you, far and wide.
Self-doubt is a foe within, strengthen your heart and mind, confidence will soon begin, and purpose, you'll surely find.
God's grace and mercy are real, unconditional and free, so lose your ego's selfish zeal, and His forgiveness, you'll see.
Money is but an earthly tool, its value fades with time, no matter how much you accrue, it won't earn you a place divine.
We don't know our final hour, so live each moment with love, embrace humility's sweet power, smiling down on us from above.
People are more precious than gold, diamonds, and jewels combined, their worth can never be sold, they're priceless, in heart and mind.
So listen closely, my dear friend, to the words I share with you, may they guide you to the end, and make your life bright and true.
What do you think? Is the AI better poet than me? If I had given a racialized or other identity markers for the AI, do you think it would have reduced quality or stereotyped the advice in the poem?