Be careful

a late observation....isn't "yesteryear" just an accumulation of "yesterdays"....

That being said, I can empathize with you Kim. I don’t like being copied. Several decades ago, a person, who shall remain nameless, made a habit of shamelessly copying my drawing – age-appropriately immature drawing of things like ducks wearing beards or sideburns. I was seething. I confided in an older person, who shall remain nameless, who attempted (unsuccessfully) to console me by saying “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. Come to think of it, I can’t think of any instances, after about 1967 that anybody has copied me. That must mean I’m writing junk. Now, I kind of wish someone would copy me.

Somehow, in life, I acquired a neurotic guilty conscience, and I suppose that's why I'm commenting. I don't use AI, but I'm sometimes paranoid, imagining people think my poems are AI because I'm so stuck to tight rhyming forms. I need to work on loosening that up. I guess I can console myself that no one could imagine that poems as dumb as mine sometimes are, could possibly be either plagiarized or produced by AI. Unless there is some kind of dumb AI. Hey, there’s an idea for a poem (probably not original, but I can’t remember a source…oh yeah, I have a vague memory of a Gary Larson cartoon with a clumsy alien of sub-normal intelligence stumbling out of an spaceship that just landed on earth). Anyway, now that I thought of it, I’m probably going to write that poem. Am I right to think of that poem as having influences, as opposed to being plagiarized?

I've certainly never intentionally plagiarized anybody, and to my knowledge, never have plagiarized anyone. Yet, many times, I've written a poem, and without knowing it, discovered later, that what I thought was a wholly original idea, was heavily influenced by some song or movie I saw (last month or four decades ago), so I wonder if that could also happen with someone's poem. Also, sometimes, I read someone else's poem, or comment, or see a news story, and it triggers an idea, so that poem is an influence, but I'm not copying it. Anyhow, if I've ever subconsciously copied anyone's stuff, bring it to my attention.

I, a truly Lawless poet must confess...I am guilty...of being inspired and emboldened by reading the poems of "others" (too numerous to be mentioned here) to pursue the "implications" of a word or phrase in their poem. I once used all the Contest titles to construct a poem. I have often said that "it is the nature of the poet to provoke, not to explain" leaving the interpretation and implications of my writings in the heads and hearts of the readers. People may steal my words but they will never know the joy and passion and inspiration that gave them life.

Sometimes I find myself on the same wavelength psychically as others and things are coinsidental but I try never to do that. God knows, you don't need me, lol <3

I recently posted "Vinland" Senryu. I used “Vikings row the boat ashore” from Peter Paul & Mary's "Michael Row The Boat Ashore" which itself was originally a “Negro” Spiritual. It is a fit, for History purposes regarding Columbus Day. Everyone would recognize the play on words & I was not trying to steal it. Not an "intent" to deceive. xXHugs

i discovered my 'rape' poem on somebody else's website with her name under it as if she'd written it herself, and on here a poet wrote a poem using the lines from my 'undergrowth with two figures' poem..the way i see it, unless you're prepared to take someone to court, there's very little you can do about plagiarism

passing thought...perhaps soup mail the individual and tactfully mention what you've noticed.

Oh, my gosh goodness sakes. Send them to Poem Jail. Maybe we need one. I'm so glad you spoke out; let it be known that it is known and won't be accepted. Oh, my gosh. PEOPLE, come on or maybe go? Words that aren't one's own are words that only spell deceit no matter what one tells themself. It doesn't make someone a writer, it makes them a deceiver, and the saddest part is deceiving yourself the most. Love your authentic self genuinely, not like this.

Sure, this has happened. I just smile, yawn and move on. Perhaps it is because I have no agenda in as assigning authorship to poems I pen. I have often said, ‘wherefrom comes the exalted thought, that inspirations with it brought’. This said, I’d advocate each nightingale to sing his or her own unique song, celebrating life and holding erect stance of spirit within.

I have tried using plagiarism checkers on some poets I suspect of it but the checker says they are good. I just don't what to believe on here any more. It's very disconcerting to not know if I am giving praise to a true poet or not.

thanks for the warning Kim, sadly recent plagairism was justified as the poet having the very same idea as another poet - hmmm 9 poems posted verbatim in 3 weeks and another of a dead poet just had the word 'the' removed' . .. but its not plagiarism - go figure:-(

Kim, unfortunately there are plagiarizers here on PS. Some now just paraphrase from other poems via the internet and poetry sites and claim them as their own. I hope no one is stealing your poems.

I have been inspired by many poets. But when it is in question I always communicate as Id never infringe! Ink Empress inspired a poem and I let her know dedicating it to which she was gracious and kind! Yes I have heard we need to be careful. I intend on being honest and honorable as I would want others to be. Thanks for your post.

Kim, it has happened to me also, I have seen poems which are worded too closely to mine to be a mistake, but there is not much I can do about that sort of thing, once we post a poem it is at threat ...

Since way back when, people have read (but never commented) my poetry with the clear intention to mine it for vocabulary or ideas. But the funny part is that there is an ingrained resistance when I introduce new ideas - just some and not all. There is a new type of 'theft' I have reported before where contestants and a few others use my example poems to generate AI-GENERATED poetry..This p....me off big time as people seldom check the date and time stamp and my work gets associated with AI slop. ... You did ask, Kim :)