WHAT can be more human than poetry - surely the purest and most refined expression of thoughts, feelings and ideas possible using the written word?

Poets through the ages have sought to take truth and set it down in words; expressing their innermost emotions or using words to paint pictures, tell stories and bring history to life.

But how hard can it be, really?

As we enter a new era of AI, we thought we'd get the latest bot on the block, ChatGPT, to have a crack at writing a poem about Carlisle. Given that basic instruction, this is what it came up with...

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Oh Carlisle in Cumbria, city of ancient charm,
Nestled in the valley, by the River Eden's arm,
A land of rolling hills, and craggy fells so grand,
Where the beauty of nature meets the touch of man's hand.
From Hadrian's Wall to the Castle Keep so old,
The stories of this city, by the centuries told,
The Romans marched through, leaving footprints so bold,
While Border Reivers' legacy, forever enfold.
The cathedral's spire, piercing the sky so blue,
Stands witness to the ages, with its arches so true,
And the Jacobite uprising, a tale of valiant few,
Now echoing in the halls of Tullie House anew.
With markets so lively, and streets so quaint,
The people of Carlisle, their warmth so quaint,
In pubs and inns, the laughter does not wane,
As they toast to the city's rich and vibrant refrain.
Oh Carlisle in Cumbria, with your history so grand,
Your beauty and charm, forever will stand,
A gem of the North, so ancient and true,
For all to admire and cherish anew.

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What do you think? Marks off for rhyming 'quaint' with 'quaint'? Or did you appreciate this shredding of the rulebook? Leave your reviews below...

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