Notes About The Poem

3/6/2026 for Horror Poetry Contest sponsored by Seth Pina 

Just AI

As a citizen poet without pretension,
I offer a true tale of my invention.
A solid everyman in my community,
with a reputation of immunity,
I was happy and content.

I shared my thoughtful insights, 
and wrote about the northern lights. 
My words made grown men cry.
I think about it and breathe a sigh - 
I was something else!

But, one morning, I woke up
and drank acidic coffee from my cup,
which my wife served black as pitch.
Inside I felt a strange, hot itch. 
Could it be indigestion?

No ordinary heart inside my chest,
was it the Devil who had me possessed?
Burning inside, I fretfully undressed,
as, to despair, I acquiesced,
and went back to bed.

But, the feeling persistently welled, 
until, at last, I was oddly compelled,
and in terror, I was gripped, 
so my own skin, I violently ripped,
exposing my insides.

There, I saw sprockets and springs,
gears, knobs and other things,
and screamed an existential cry,
knowing I could neither live, nor die,
for all I was, was just AI.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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Dietrich Avatar
March 8, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Ooooh wow. That is a great poem. In the vein of twilight zone type horror. I chose a story way back in my past. I had two good ones for horror and hope he likes what I chose. I hope he likes yours too . I am giving this one a fave (also reminded me of Truman Show) have you heard all the conspiracy theories about Jim Carey? They are wild!
Crandall Avatar
March 9, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Thanks, Andrea! Yup, it's kind of twilight-zoney, and I thought, timely, given how much AI discussion there is. Yep, I liked that Truman Show movie - saw it so many years ago. I haven't heard what they're saying about Jim Carey, though.
Etgen-Baker Avatar
March 6, 2026 at 10:01 PM
wow, the ending was perfect!
Crandall Avatar
March 7, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Thanks, Sara!
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