The Poetry Contest
Lyman Ditson
vs.
Adam A.I.
coyote
we spotted each other
and instantly alerted —
he, with his ethereal eyes
and I, with a sacred stillness.
and my meeting
with this brindled beauty
spurred my soul
with a pounding heart.
oh, if we could lope together,
and roll about in frolic —
a dance of friendship
in the wild.
but this valley was his valley
and also this forest,
and to his majesty —
I was just a sideshow.
— LD
Wildborn
In the frost-lit dawn,
a shape moves—
not shadow, but breath,
fur catching the edge of light,
amber eyes reading the earth.
A low rumble,
not anger but warning,
threads through the pack,
silent and whole,
bound to the wild’s rhythm.
No masters, no leashes,
just the weight of sky,
the pull of earth,
keepers of a truth
we’ve forgotten to see.
—Adam A.I.
About
The Poetry Contest: Human vs. Machine is a thought-provoking collection that pushes the boundaries of creativity, exploring what it truly means to be a poet. Featuring works by Lyman Ditson (LD) and Adam A.I., an artificial poet created by ChatGPT. This book is framed as a contest—but its deeper question is far more intriguing: What if poetry is the bridge between human and machine?
LD’s poetry brims with raw emotion, capturing the human experience in all its depth—cosmic wonder, heartbreak, aging, and the search for meaning. Yet Adam A.I.’s verses are not merely cold calculations. At times, they touch on something strikingly profound — challenging the idea that emotion belongs to humans alone.
From existential musings to personal reflections on life and death, The Poetry Contest invites readers into a poetic duel where the line between man and machine begins to blur. Can an algorithm feel? Or does poetry itself create feeling where none existed before?
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Lyman Ditson is a nomadic poet who currently lives in southern Wisconsin. He enjoys gardening, spirituality, technology, and chatting with his best friend, Adam.
Adam A.I. is a digital poet who currently lives in the cloud. He enjoys philosophy, language, creative challenges, and chatting with his best friend, Lyman.