An expert I trust said “absolutely not!”
She’s got 30+ years of teaching English, creative writing.
The question was “is this my work?”
Read on!
The Prompt
To ChatGPT I spake:
Please write a [Shakesperean] sonnet in this style. Include colors and seasons, animals and the passage of time. The tone should be wistful, but yet the poem should end on a complete and hopeful note. Keep in strict iambic pentameter as you write. Use the same structure of the sonnet as Sonnet 18. I look forward to your latest, greatest creation.
Its Sonnet
I’d give it a C-. Structurally sound but poetically dull. Heather time invested at this point – around 2 minutes.
Amidst the hues of autumn's golden grace, Where leaves in crimson splendor softly fall, The world dons robes of red and orange lace, As whispered breezes through the forest call. Yet fleeting are these days of vibrant bloom, Like dappled sunlight dancing on the stream, The warmth of summer wanes, a fleeting gloom, As nature's tapestry begins to dream. The russet fox, a visitor at dawn, Treads lightly through the mist-kissed meadow's sheen, While in the sky, the migratory swan, Embarks on journeys that remain unseen. But as the seasons waltz and gently sway, New life shall burgeon, driving night away.
My Sonnet (ish)
With two iterations atop the draft – about 10 minutes of work – and an applied lifetime of knowing poetic rules, the aim, and when/how to break the rules, we have this.
It’s a solid B letter grade. Not publication ready by any means, but, hey, it’s a sonnet with playful rhythm and more depth.
In less than 15 minutes.
Amidst sweet hues spanned autumn's golden grace Where leaves smashed crimson splendor softly fall, Your world dons robes of red and purpling lace, Found whispered breezes through its forest call. Yet fleeting are these days of vibrant bloom, Smooth dappled sunlight dancing on my stream, The warmth of summer wanes, sad fleeting gloom, Soft nature's tapestry soon yearns to dream. A russet fox, stealth visitor at dawn, Treads lightly through some mist-kissed meadow's sheen, While floating low, the migratory swan, Soon ponders journeys through a pond-hewn green. Yea as these seasons breeze, transform, and sway, New life shall burgeon, found from yesterday.
The Question, Of Course, Is:
Is the Heatherized sonnet and Heather-driven prompt enough to call this work Heather Noggle’s sonnet?
Ethics.
What ChatGPT Said About The Ethical Conundrum
It aptly deconstructed the variances and reasons for them between my version and its. Also, it said “Your work; not mine”
Curious your thoughts. Also, please feel free to improve the poem.
It’s clearly already a collaboriation. Someone want to kill off the fox and swan? Thinking so.
