An exploration, through poetry and ChatGPT-4. Another poem by Caitlin Van Horn, is shared below. Another one I had stashed away (much like in this post) because I thought it might be lost to the abyss before I wanted to let it go. This one dated July 23rd, no year.

Love by Another Name

You carved me out of shapeless stone
gilded me with light and gold
kissed my marble brow and bone
until no longer i was cold

from the cleft you formed my hands
my eyes you lit with wondrous tale
my tongue you sewed with music strands
you crowned me with your thinnest veil

By angels spun with loom and twine
you cloaked me with the stars and moon
heat upon my breast was mine
branded with your ancient rune

your rib you placed into my cage
my veins you stained with your wine
my heart you charged with tempest rage
my cracks you sealed with salty brine

with battle drum, harp and lyre
you spurred me on my lowly way
into my grief, the mud and mire
with lashes wet i begged to stay

A quiver danced upon your lip
the magpie sang her soulful dirge
from the salty pools did drip
our tears in which we tried to purge

“Oh master oh master,” I cried to thee,
“My feet have yet been carved
for you must not be done with me
or do you wish me starved?”

“My love my love,” he sang to me,
“Our time in the quarry has past
may your wild heart gladdened be
I hail the wind to sweep you fast

You have no need for mortal soles
I have bestowed you with my wings
to traverse beaches, glades and shoals
rivers, sunsets and mountain springs.”

“Is this love?” I cried to thee,
“For I do not understand
you have forged your name on me
with your tender artist’s hand.”

“This is my gift,” he then replied,
“You know from whence you came
fashioned from my soul’s deep tide
from a love by another name.”

You steered me to the rocky edge
clouds tempted me with their down
cherubim peaked o’er their hedge
you placed your hand upon my crown.

And with a push you watched me fall
my cry bleating with descend
with a force my wings did sprawl
gliding me slowly on the wind.

I turned my cheek to catch your gaze
Growing smaller as I flamed
Burning with a fervent blaze
With a love by another name.

Love by another name, it’s one that sticks in my head. So I asked ChatGPT-4…

Rewrite the following with a more masculine tone:

And shared the poem. The output.

ChatGPT-4: Strength by Another Name

You forged me from unyielding rock,
cloaked me in fire and steel,
grazed my granite brow and form,
until warmth I could feel.

From the rift, you shaped my grasp,
my eyes you filled with tales untold,
my voice you laced with thunder’s clash,
a crown of iron you bestowed.

By Titans’ hands and Herculean might,
you draped me in celestial shrouds,
flame upon my chest alight,
marked with runes of ancient vows.

Your rib you set within my frame,
my veins you filled with fervent wine,
my heart you charged, a wild flame,
my fractures sealed with strength divine.

With drums of war, horns and lyre,
you urged me on my rugged path,
through strife and toil, muck and mire,
with whip’s lash, I sought your wrath.

A tremor danced upon your lips,
the raven crooned its mournful dirge,
from the briny pools did slip,
our tears, as pain and solace merged.

“Oh, master, oh master,” I roared to thee,
“My feet have not been hewn,
for you must not be done with me,
or do you wish me doomed?”

“My strength, my strength,” you spoke to me,
“Our time in the forge has passed,
may your untamed spirit be free,
I summon the gales to drive you fast.

You have no need for mortal boots,
I’ve granted you my soaring wings,
to cross oceans, forests, and routes,
valleys, sunsets, and mountain springs.”

“Is this strength?” I roared to thee,
“For I cannot comprehend,
you have etched your name on me,
with your masterful artisan’s hand.”

“This is my gift,” you then declared,
“You know from whence you came,
molded from my soul’s deep flare,
from a strength by another name.”

You guided me to the jagged brink,
clouds beckoned with their feathery grace,
seraphim peeked o’er their fence,
you placed your hand upon my face.

And with a shove, you watched me plunge,
my cry thundering with descent,
with force, my wings did lunge,
propelling me through winds unbent.

I turned my gaze to seek your eyes,
growing distant as I soared,
ablaze with a passion never to die,
with strength by another name adored.

Instantly, the first line You forged me from unyielding rock, sounds rougher somehow, why does that make me feel “masculine” in my reading. Like a hard stop in my stomach. Rock. Interesting perspectives it’s making me explore, while creating, I think only more beautiful poetry to read. Nothin’ wrong with that.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m lazy and don’t want to connect the don’ts myself, but I’m finding it fun to ask ChatGPT to come up with correlations, connections, meaning, in or between things and then explain it to me. Am I being lazy by not wanting to do the thinking, or curious by asking the question at all?

Anna: What meaning could these two poems convey?

ChatGPT-4: The two poems, “Love by Another Name” and “Strength by Another Name,” convey the themes of love, strength, and transformation, while highlighting the role of a creator or guiding force. In both poems, the subjects are given life, form, and purpose by their respective creators.

“Love by Another Name” speaks to the power of love as a transformative force that brings life, warmth, and the ability to soar. It suggests that love, in its purest form, can be a guiding force, granting wings to traverse life’s many landscapes, and that it might not always be recognizable at first.

“Strength by Another Name” focuses on strength as a vital force that allows the subject to withstand life’s trials and tribulations. The creator imbues the subject with resilience and power, enabling them to overcome obstacles and ultimately soar. The poem implies that strength, like love, can have many names and forms, and that it might not always be apparent.

Both poems emphasize the importance of recognizing and embracing these transformative forces in one’s life. They also celebrate the beauty and diversity of the human experience, as each individual journeys through unique paths shaped by love, strength, and other life-altering emotions.

Now I want to play opposites again and see how the poem feels.

Anna: Write me another version of “Love by Another Name”, but about the opposite of love, in a masculine voice.

ChatGPT-4: Hatred by Another Name

You chiseled me from lifeless stone,
cloaked me in shadows and despair,
touched my stony brow and form,
until ice took hold and snared.

From the abyss, you shaped my fists,
my eyes you filled with tales of dread,
my voice you wove with bitter twists,
a crown of thorns you placed upon my head.

By demons’ hands and Stygian force,
you draped me in the blackest night,
frost upon my chest did course,
etched with runes of endless spite.

Your venom seeped into my frame,
my veins you filled with bitter gall,
my heart you stoked, a darkened flame,
my fractures widened, deepened by your thrall.

With drums of war, chains and scythe,
you sent me on my ruthless way,
through chaos, torment, pain and strife,
with whip’s crack, I sought your sway.

A sneer danced upon your lips,
the raven cawed its mournful dirge,
from the inky pools did drip,
our tears, as malice and anguish surged.

“Oh, master, oh master,” I bellowed to thee,
“My feet have not been carved,
for you must not be done with me,
or do you wish me starved?”

“My hate, my hate,” you growled to me,
“Our time in the darkness has passed,
may your savage heart be unchained,
I command the storm to drive you fast.

You have no need for mortal boots,
I’ve granted you my talons fierce,
to cross wastelands, swamps, and dunes,
deserts, moonless nights, and chasms deep.”

“Is this hate?” I bellowed to thee,
“For I cannot comprehend,
you have engraved your mark on me,
with your merciless artisan’s hand.”

“This is my curse,” you then declared,
“You know from whence you came,
forged from my soul’s dark lair,
from a hatred by another name.”

You steered me to the jagged edge,
storms tempted me with their wrath,
demons jeered from their hidden ledge,
you placed your hand upon my nape.

And with a shove, you watched me fall,
my cry thundering with descent,
with a force, my talons did sprawl,
plunging me through gales unspent.

I turned my glare to catch your sneer,
growing distant as I plunged,
ablaze with a rage never to end,
with hatred by another name indulged.

Pause to reflect.

But then one more opposite.

Anna: Write me another version of “Strength by Another Name”, but about the opposite of strength, in a feminine voice.

ChatGPT-4: Fragility by Another Name

You sculpted me from delicate clay,
veiled me in whispers and sighs,
caressed my tender form and face,
until shivers graced my eyes.

From the shadows, you shaped my touch,
my eyes you filled with fragile dreams,
my voice you wove with tender hush,
a crown of petals on me, it seems.

By nymphs’ hands and silken thread,
you swathed me in the palest hues,
dew upon my skin was spread,
marked with runes of transient truths.

Your teardrop seeped into my frame,
my veins you filled with bittersweet,
my heart you lit, a wavering flame,
my fractures deepened by your weep.

With rustling leaves, sighs and tears,
you sent me on my gentle way,
through doubts, whispers, sighs and fears,
with love’s touch, I sought your grace.

A quiver danced upon your lips,
the nightingale crooned its mournful dirge,
from the misty pools did slip,
our tears, as sorrow and softness merged.

“Oh, mistress, oh mistress,” I whispered to thee,
“My feet have not been hewn,
for you must not be done with me,
or do you wish me ruined?”

“My sorrow, my sorrow,” you sighed to me,
“Our time in the twilight has passed,
may your tender heart be at peace,
I summon the zephyr to waft you fast.

You have no need for mortal soles,
I’ve granted you my gossamer wings,
to glide through meadows, streams, and knolls,
sunrises, rainbows, and crystal springs.”

“Is this frailty?” I whispered to thee,
“For I cannot comprehend,
you have etched your mark on me,
with your graceful artisan’s hand.”

“This is my touch,” you then declared,
“You know from whence you came,
molded from my soul’s soft prayer,
from fragility by another name.”

You guided me to the verdant brink,
breezes tempted me with their sigh,
seraphim peeked o’er their fence,
you placed your hand upon my cheek.

And with a nudge, you watched me glide,
my cry trembling with ascent,
with grace, my wings did spread wide,
carrying me through skies unbent.

I turned my gaze to seek your eyes,
growing distant as I drifted,
aglow with a softness never to die,
with fragility by another name uplifted.

And now to compare these two, I asked…

Anna: What could these two poems convey?

ChatGPT-4: These two poems convey contrasting themes and emotions. The first poem, “Hatred by Another Name,” explores the darker aspects of human emotions, focusing on hatred, anger, and malevolence. The masculine voice emphasizes the intensity and rawness of these feelings, as well as their destructive and consuming nature.

The second poem, “Fragility by Another Name,” delves into the more delicate and vulnerable aspects of human experience, highlighting fragility, sorrow, and tenderness. The feminine voice captures the gentle and vulnerable nature of these emotions, emphasizing their subtlety and ephemeral quality.

Together, these poems illustrate the duality and complexity of human emotions, showcasing how contrasting feelings and experiences can coexist and shape our lives. They also invite readers to reflect on the balance and interplay between darkness and light, strength and fragility, and the transformative power of love and hate.

Now to find my title for this exploration.

Anna: What do love, strength, hate, and fragility have in common, answer in a metaphorical way, 9 words.

ChatGPT-4: Emotions intertwined, colors painting life’s intricate, ever-changing tapestry.

Life’s intricate, ever changing tapestry.

Explored with love, strength, hate, and fragility.

And ChatGPT-4.

And me.