Mark Toney Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

10/4/2024

I wrote this poem after reading the current controversy about AI on the Soup. The moral of the story: Use your own words! 

It's allegorical and basically a pastiche, drawing from Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac. 
image by Mark Toney using DALL-E (2024-11-11)

Listen to poem:

Use Your Own Words!

Chris prompts his friend, Cyra
to help him win the
heart of his true love,
Roxy

Chris is easy on the eyes
a dreamy kinda guy
but as far as conversation goes
he’s got no game

Cyra articulates like no other,
a maven of expression
But visible impression?
Not so much

Chris plans the evening well,
standing under the spell of
Roxy’s second-story window
(taming butterflies)

Cyra too on the scene
is nowhere to be seen
as if hiding in a cloud
awaiting a cue

Chris tosses candied sweethearts
at her window, she finally awakens
Roxy’s appearance is captivating,
stirring Chris’s senses

Surrogate Cyra begins on cue
launching love-struck expressions
Roxy nearly swoons …
Chris starts coughing

Discerning the subterfuge
as coughing Chris chokes
Roxy beseechingly begs,
“Who are you? What is your name?”

Truth undisguised
Cyra promptly replies,
“Cyra—NO!  I will not lie …
I am generative AI”

Roxy faints, befuddled
Chris’s words muddled
Thus ends this mad romp—
AI awaits a prompt

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Maria Williams October 13, 2024 at 2:46 AM I love theatre and aside for all this AI preoccupation, this could make a good theatrical, musical script Mark. Mark Toney October 17, 2024 at 10:51 AM What a fun thought, Maria! It’s already been done with Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac, sans the AI. ;-) FYI- I subscribed to your YouTube channel and am really enjoying it. You and Ron are very creative.

Jan Allison October 6, 2024 at 12:44 PM thanks for the fun poem Mark:-) hugs Jan xx Mark Toney October 6, 2024 at 1:10 PM Thanks for the kind encouragement, Jan. I just read your poem, "AI poems on Poetry soup" and enjoyed it. :)

Linda Alice Fowler October 5, 2024 at 8:50 AM Humorous and fun Mark. Kinda puts it in perspective. :) Mark Toney October 5, 2024 at 8:49 PM Thank you. I’m glad you liked it, Linda.

Constance La France October 5, 2024 at 7:39 AM Mark, fun write, and AI failed that time, and awaits the next prompt, that will no doubt come as there are many losers out there who cannot use their own words, Constance Mark Toney October 5, 2024 at 9:02 PM I appreciate the kind encouragement, Constance. For better or worse, AI is certainly having an impact on the difficult times in which we live.