Decoding Poetry feat. ChatGPT

ChatGPT’s Take on Poetry

Photograph by Ema Dumitru

In this experiment, I will be putting ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI, to the test to determine if it can read and understand poetry, and even provide commentary on it. I am eager to see if a machine can truly grasp the nuances and complexities of this art form, and how it will compare to a human’s interpretation. For this test I will provide one of my poems, that you can find here. I’d like to know how closely ChatGPT’s analysis aligns with your own interpretation.

ChatGPT Analysis

Stanza 1:

“pardon the burning midnight body
scorching in the moonlight, a yellow wallpaper
gone to ground, a million false faces”

This stanza begins with an apology for the intensity of the speaker’s emotions, represented by the “burning midnight body.” The use of “moonlight” and “yellow wallpaper” creates a sense of atmosphere and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The “million false faces” suggest a sense of inauthenticity or insincerity, perhaps referring to societal pressure to present a certain image of oneself.

Stanza 2:

“pardon the tears not coming forward
no statement, draining…