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Soul River

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This poem is about not moving in lockstep and about thinking for yourself.  It's also reminiscent of "the force" in Star Wars - you let yourself be guided to the truth by a kind of free flow.  The poem didn't start that way, it was initially an experiment intended to be more about sound of words and mood. I woke up with the phrase "soul river" in my mind, and then told a LLM to make a poem just based on the title.   I was astonished by what it put out.   Then I asked myself - "what does this song mean?" I kept changing and changing it until it meant something.   It was like starting with a scaffolding, and then replacing every brick.  Poetrysoup doesn't want poems created by A.I. but I think in this case it was OK; because I was finding a 'starting point', like taking a set of photos and making a painting out of it.   I tried PoetrySoup's checker for A.I generated poems, and it says this poem was generated by a human. And apart from a few phrases (like 'silent night'), it is.


Man adrift in a river

Lemmings run in tunnels deep, The obsessed won't let the phantoms sleep, But I can't stampede with brainwashed sheep, I plunged into the soul river. Leaving the crowd was hard to do My heart, deceived, believed it knew, But I left the comfort zone, joined the few. And plunged into the soul river. I entered the heart of the silent night, Where the moon whispered soft and bright, A path of dreams, it just felt right, Between the cliffs of the soul river. Beneath the sky of endless stars, I put on hold the wounds and scars, The current took me, ventured far, I drifted with the soul river. [chorus] Soul river, carry me, To the place where I am free, Free to think and disagree. Free to pursue life's mystery. Then morning came with golden hue, Each dream left its subconscious clue, My heart learned from the journey true, Guided by the soul river. Mountains reflect in serene clear lakes Though my friends don't learn from their mistakes, I will not be with them, for time rushes by I'd rather feel bad with truth, then good with a lie.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 6/18/2024 5:41:00 AM
Interesting poem. You probably saw my blog on AI and the controversy it has generated here and beyond. Careful in the future. The best poetry comes from the human heart
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Date: 5/29/2024 12:22:00 AM
I enjoy this poem that takes into consideration the need for individuality. The photograph was a pleasant addition.
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Date: 5/27/2024 6:44:00 AM
This must have music with it. Powerful!
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Mark Springer
Date: 5/28/2024 2:22:00 AM
Thanks. It's not easy to put music to poems, I think you need a professional, and that costs a lot.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things