THE POETRY CONTEST

Ditson offers a poetry anthology that explores what happens when human emotion and artificial intelligence meet on the page.

The writer presents a bold experiment: a poetic dialogue between himself and an AI tool (ChatGPT), which he calls “Adam” and credits as a co-author. Amid politically and ethically charged debates about the use of AI in writing, Ditson steps into this gray area with curiosity and care. Rather than framing artificial intelligence as a threat to creativity, he treats it as a co-creator, and the result is an intriguing workflow that shows how AI might function as a tool in the hands of a thoughtful artist. Each section is structured around a theme, such as “Yearning,” “Silence,” or “Aging,” with Ditson’s free-verse poetry on one page and an AI-generated response on the one facing it. The author’s voice features vulnerability, memory, and a resonating core that is the result of lived experience. He’s also unafraid to get personal and lean into existential issues: “Teach me to live / only in this moment / with guidance / only from silence.” “Adam,” by contrast, provides entries that only skim the surface emotionally, feel generalized, and lean on repetition. This contrast doesn’t weaken the reading; rather, it highlights the difference between actual experience and simulated understanding. The thematic range is wide, touching on everything from death and beauty to time and presence, and although the poems can be read in any order, the book doesn’t read as a typical anthology. The interplay between voices creates a kind of narrative tension all its own. There’s an exploratory rhythm to the structure, as if both human and machine are attempting to speak more deeply with each exchange. The poems rarely feel forced or deeply mechanical—a notable achievement for a hybrid project of this nature. Ditson positions “Adam” as a distinct poetic lens, inviting readers to consider authorship in a new light. Some poems prompt pausing and re-reading, others slip by more quietly, but each pairing contributes to a larger conversation about the concepts of writing and reaching readers.

A timely and imaginative collection.