The Poem and the Gemini
I'm not a confident writer, nor am I skilled at writing poems. But I do sometimes write one when I'm feeling happy, having a bad day, or just feel like it. Sometimes, writing can be a recreational activity that helps me sort through turmoil.
Today, I found one of my old poems. While it might seem imperfect or lacking, I treasure it more for how it reminds me of the way I was feeling back then, and how it sent me on a trip down memory lane.
Original
I've given it the title "Night Off." Though, I honestly don't remember why, only that it was nighttime when I wrote it.
When life shows bearing,
And enjoy the warmth it brings.
Doubt ensues within,
As hardship feels forthcoming.
When reap caught blessing,
And farmers worship the king,
Mother knows the law,
Drought thereafter soon befall.
When love feels surreal,
And you adore rose warmly.
Burning jealousy blooms,
While filled with poisonous fumes.
There is more to life,
More than we can ever see.
Teach us to coincide,
Every good the minute bring.
When it's beyond us,
No matter how we adjust.
We're forced to accept,
Bursting hope we fondly kept.
AI Improved-version
Now with turning to AI for almost everything. I'm interested on what Gemini could do. So, I turned to an AI to see how it could be "improved," per se. I wasn't looking or aiming to make it perfect, but I was piqued what can be the "better" version and see how it feels.
So I asked Gemini, "Can you improve this poem, keep the original style, pay attention to the syllables, and keep your edits minimal."
Result
When life feels endearing,
And we enjoy the warmth it brings,
Doubt ensues within,
As hardship feels forthcoming.
When the reap is a blessing,
And farmers worship the king,
Mother knows the law,
A drought will soon befall.
When love feels surreal,
And you adore a rose warmly,
Burning jealousy blooms,
While filled with poisonous fumes.
There is more to life,
More than we can ever see.
Teach us to live inside
The good each minute brings.
When it's beyond us,
No matter how we adjust,
We're forced to accept
Losing the hope we kept.
Hmm, that's something. It does improve it quite well, but it feels foreign. While my original may sounded imperfect, it feels closer to my heart because of how I used to feel. It carried an emotion that I relate to. I guess there's always something AI can't quite capture when it comes to memories. Nonetheless, the new version really does sound nice.
But of course, I was still curious about what Gemini thought of the poem's message.So, I asked for feedback!
The Feedback
I asked Gemini, "What do you think is the poem about?"
Response
I think the poem is about the duality of life and the feeling that happiness is often temporary.
It seems to explore the idea that for every good thing we experience, there's an underlying anxiety or an inevitable downturn that follows. You see this pattern in each section:
- A good life brings the fear of future hardship.
- A bountiful harvest is followed by a drought.
- A beautiful new love can lead to jealousy.
It captures that feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. But the poem isn't just about pessimism. The fourth stanza feels like the heart of it all—it's a plea to learn how to live in the good moments and appreciate them as they happen, without being clouded by the fear of what's next.
Ultimately, it feels like a reflection on accepting this cycle. The last stanza about being "forced to accept losing the hope we kept" brings it to a somber but realistic conclusion: sometimes, life is just beyond our control.
Final thoughts
Oh, that honestly feels quite spot on. When I wrote this poem, I was feeling emotional. I had recently graduated from senior high school and was in early college life. Back in senior high, I was a young achiever and did great. But when I stepped into college, it felt like there were suddenly too many hardships. That’s why I felt that night like things were catching up to me.
Thankfully, I did bounce back from that pit. I managed to graduate magna cum laude and did well during my college years. There were some regrets, but there were also great memories I fondly keep.
This poem was my comfort for my spiraling heart. To find my own confidence in my own integrity, and to find peace in knowing that I'm doing my best. It convey that I must focus on being the person I want to be. And that I tell myself, try to let go a little and just let life happen.
So that's why to this day, may more great memories come, and may I find more anchors in this life to cherish and hold me steady in my endeavors.