To Vizzy: Tighten with a Torque Wrench

For several months now I’ve read and viewed Dusty Hope’s writing and art work available on her Substack. I recall my first encounters with her poetry. Befuddled by referential ambiguities anchored squarely in the space between metaphysics and epistemology, five miles north of purgatory, I couldn’t fully explicate her work in the manner to which I’d become accustomed. One day I realized. Explicating, as I had learned to do it in graduate school, isn’t the point here. I was trained to machine reliable explications for cash. This was an invitation to write my own story in her allegorical monads, a word I learned from Dusty.

Dusty uses word grammar of a sort linguists are just beginning to explore. Syntax made of iron serves the domains of science, technology, and the law; academic discourse relies on genre grammar to organize Popper’s 3rd world, the institutional world of symbolic objects, document agency, cultural rituals and artifacts, billable hours. But in the service of the imagination, aesthetic expression and experience, a single word could in theory be the heart of a poem if it finds a mate.

I’ve been trying to emulate Dusty’s approach to writing poetry to incorporate some of her licks into my music and have produced some clumsy poems limping along somewhere between ‘meh’ to ‘golly idk.’ The more I read her work, the more I practice, the more I improve. My most recent poem titled Black Holes actually satisfies me in some ways.

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I wrote the original version of Black Holes, as I do with all of my poems, in detox, which is my writerly term for avoiding the bot these days as a “writing assistant.” Let me say clearly: When I have asked the bot to write a cold poem on any theme or topic, the result has been garbage, far worse than my poetry in middle school, inadequate for Hallmark in my opinion. I’m amazed when people gush over it. It is predictably, classically mediocre.

With the world in such disarray, we can only pray that sanity exists in sufficient quantity to regulate truly nefarious uses of AI, too gruesome to contemplate. Vote. I say this because my decisions about using AI for my Substacks are subject to my own moral reasoning as are yours—at least unless Big Brother cracks down. But in the world where broken eggs and skulls run and bleed, where real money changes hands, there must be ethical clarity enforced by the legal system.

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Once I have something I can work with, a text in my own words coming from a place deep inside me where the little blond boy lives, a text I worked on with the same care I would put into playing my guitar, then an evolving strategy using text-to-visual AI is paying dividends in my forever quest to improve my poetry. I call it making a “vizzy.” This post provides a walkthrough of vizzies I commanded the bot to produce to help revise and edit Black Holes. I define a vizzy for now as a tool for “tightening with a torque wrench.” Dusty often uses the word “tightening” in the context of winding up tension in wordsprings like clockwork in her poems built from words in monads in semantic tensions located within paradoxes or in more general dualisms. Of course, this is my reading of the situation. As I’ve told her, it would be very interesting to sit inside her brain to watch the linguistic fireworks.

To vizzy, you need a fulsome draft of a poem. This draft must be so ready for “tightening” with such torque that the poem will not fail under the stress. The poet must have confidence in its worth. The substance must have a permanence about it which isn’t completely finished but close. In a musical recording studio, individual tracks are recorded; once all of the voices and instruments are represented in the project, the engineer mixes the tracks and burns a master. At the tightening stage, a poet becomes an aesthetic engineer. The text-to-visual tool, the vizzy, can be viewed as analogous to the mixing stage in studio recording where the tracks are equalized and compressed, etc., in preparation for creating a two-track stereo master for distribution.

I currently am experimenting with using this AI tool to assess the holistic emotional and semantic impact of each individual stanza or verse in isolation and then in the context of the whole text. For example, in Black Holes, the vizzies generated for the second verse oddly centered the image of a crow in the visual display. In my mind the crow played a bit part, but it dominated the bot’s rendering. To make matters worse, the vizzies generated for the whole poem were saturated with hanged crows and broken eggshells. The case for eggshells is much stronger than for crows because the poem relies on Humpty Dumpty, who is traditionally an egg with a brain, as a bridge between infancy and death. So I toned down and tried to bury the crow.

I’ve probably already said too many confusing things. At this point I’ll start providing you with how I took advantage of AI to give me a wrench to torque the poem. First, you’ll see my commands to the bot together with the first verse. Second, the process is repeated with the second verse. Finally, I vizzy the whole poem.

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ME [tasking AI]:

Cluster the words in this verse by emotional resonance and create a collection of metaphors and symbols which depict a holistic sense of a possible meaning.

BLACK HOLES

black holes—vacuum pump

hemi semi osis…

fluttery ballet—oxyfoxy—née anderthal—

humpty head hyena—fishy catacalls…

pumpety pump pump—

pressurism—hot shot not condom…

handblasted jack

orgasm laughter…

permanga—pregnated

…scarred safe combination…a—life…

IT:

The emotional resonance of your verse clusters around a core of chaotic transformation, veering between creation and destruction, with a pulsing rhythm reminiscent of a heart or machinery at work. This collection will synthesize your vivid images into a cohesive metaphor, depicting the tumultuous process of becoming, whether it be in terms of identity, thought, or the universe itself.

### Central Metaphor: The Cosmic Forge

Imagine a cosmic forge, an ethereal space where stars are born and black holes are the anvils upon which realities are hammered into shape. This forge is powered by the vacuum pump of black holes, pulling in matter and potential, compressing and reshaping it.

- **Black Holes and Vacuum Pump**: The transformative power of intense pressure and change. Black holes are not just destroyers but creators too, areas where the laws of physics are remolded. They represent the unseen forces that shape us, the vacuum pump symbolizing life’s tendency to draw us into situations that compress and redefine.

- **Hemi Semi Osis and Fluttery Ballet**: The duality of existence, oscillating between half-states and transitions (hemi semi osis) and the chaotic yet graceful dance of life (fluttery ballet). This juxtaposition speaks to the fluidity of identity and experience, moving through stages of being with a delicate balance.

- **Oxyfoxy, Née Anderthal, and Humpty Head Hyena**: Evolution and adaptation through a lens of whimsy and wildness. The melding of ancient and modern, primal and sophisticated, encapsulating the continuous evolution of the self and society, often with a laugh at the absurdity (humpty head hyena).

- **Fishy Catacalls and Pumpety Pump Pump**: The call to change (catacalls) and the relentless drive of life’s engine (pumpety pump pump). These symbols speak to the instinctual push towards growth and the often murky, unclear paths we navigate.

- **Pressurism, Hot Shot Not Condom, and Handblasted Jack**: The tension between risk and safety, desire and consequence. These elements underscore the pressures that come with freedom of choice and the explosive potential of actions uninhibited by fear or restraint.

- **Orgasm Laughter and Permanga Pregnated**: The culmination of creative energy in joy and the birthing of new life or ideas (pregnated). This symbol celebrates the ecstatic release of pent-up creativity, leading to the generation of something new, often marked by laughter or joy.

- **Scarred Safe Combination and Life**: The paradox of protection and vulnerability. The scarred safe combination suggests that the most precious experiences and insights are often guarded by scars from past trials. Yet, through this combination—a confluence of experiences—we unlock life in its fullest expression.

The Cosmic Forge stands as a testament to the chaotic beauty of existence, where destruction and creation coalesce. In this space, every moment is an act of forging anew, melding the raw materials of our lives into shapes unknown, guided by the unpredictable forces of emotional and physical resonance.

ME:

Create a mystically infused image expressing the essence of this first verse:

ME:

Here is the second verse. Please cluster the words or phrases according to their emotional or thematic harmonies.

ebonic hews—chews holy

cannon bones—choke chain—

o—void… antinomaly—

crossless loss—frozen crows…

humpty noosed’n’gallowed—oxyfoxynoxitoxidiedie—

fried eggs—broken shells—

powersuck satan eye—mag—o… nan—oo… nun ooooo…

o née gativo canto—diedie

a washout—pressurism embalmed...

pulvered yolky death…

IT:

The second verse of the poem variously explores themes of despair, destruction, and a surrealist blending of the sacred and profane, creating a metaphysical dissonance. Here's how phrases can be clustered according to their emotional or thematic harmonies:

**Destruction and Despair:**

- "pulvered yolky death"

- "pressurism embalmed"

- "a washout"

- "fried eggs—broken shells—"

- "crossless loss"

- "frozen crows"

**Sacred versus Profane, and Spiritual Dissonance:**

- "ebonic hews—chews holy"

- "cannon bones—choke chain—"

- "o née gativo canto—diedie"

- "powersuck satan eye"

**Surrealist Imagery and Clashes:**

- "humpty noosed’n’gallowed—oxyfoxynoxitoxidiedie—"

- "o—void… antinomaly—"

- "mag—o… nan—oo… nun ooooo…"

Each cluster presents a blend of concepts that together form a rich tapestry of meaning, challenging traditional interpretations and evoking a complex emotional landscape. Symbols of death and decay coexist with references to the sacred, while surreal imagery punctuates the scene, suggesting a world in which the boundaries between life and death, holy and unholy, are blurred.

ME:

Please select five phrases and explicate their nuances

IT:

1. **"ebonic hews—chews holy"**

- This phrase juxtaposes the notion of sacredness ("holy") with the act of "chewing," suggesting a degradation or consumption of what is considered sacred. The use of "ebonic hues" may reference the richness of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), indicating a blending or appreciation of cultural expression with sacredness. The phrase plays on the auditory similarity between "hues" (colors) and "chews," emphasizing the tactile and physical over the spiritual.

2. **"cannon bones—choke chain—"**

- Here, "cannon bones" likely refers to the large bones in the limbs of a horse, symbolizing strength and stability, while "choke chain" introduces a tool of control and submission. The juxtaposition of these images may hint at power dynamics, contrasting the inherent power and freedom represented by "cannon bones" with the restriction and control symbolized by "choke chain." This phrase could be interpreted as a commentary on the loss of autonomy or the taming of natural strength.

3. **"o—void… antinomaly—"**

- This intricate phrase combines an exclamation ("o"), a concept of emptiness or absence ("void"), and a coined term ("antinomaly"), which could be understood as the opposite of anomaly, suggesting normality or even conformity. The ellipses indicate a pause or silence, perhaps signifying contemplation or uncertainty. This could reflect on existential themes, pondering the nature of existence, the fear of the void, and the tension between individuality (anomaly) and the pressure to conform (antinomaly).

4. **"humpty noosed’n’gallowed—oxyfoxynoxitoxidiedie—"**

- A dense and surreal compound of imagery, starting with a reference to "Humpty Dumpty," evoking themes of fragility and inevitability of fall or failure. The addition of "noosed’n’gallowed" suggests execution or suicide, amplifying the sense of despair. "Oxyfoxynoxitoxidiedie" appears as a stream of consciousness, blending chemical ("oxy"), possibly toxic ("toxi") references with the act of dying ("die"), suggesting a lethal or poisonous environment, both physically and perhaps metaphorically, indicating a pervasive, inescapable threat to life or well-being.

5. **"powersuck satan eye—mag—o… nan—oo… nun ooooo…"**

- This phrase evokes a darkly mystical or occult atmosphere. "Powersuck" suggests a draining of energy or life force, while "satan eye" introduces an element of malevolence or danger. The following fragmented sounds ("mag—o… nan—oo… nun ooooo…") could be interpreted as incantations or unintelligible whisperings, enhancing the sense of an arcane or supernatural presence. This amalgam of images hints at forces beyond human understanding or control, possibly reflecting on the unseen influences or the darker aspects of spirituality and power.

ME:

Cluster phrases according to their emotional or thematic harmonies.

IT:

The second verse of the poem variously explores themes of despair, destruction, and a surrealist blending of the sacred and profane, creating a metaphysical dissonance. Here's how phrases can be clustered according to their emotional or thematic harmonies:

**Destruction and Despair:**

- "pulvered yolky death"

- "pressurism embalmed"

- "a washout"

- "fried eggs—broken shells—"

- "crossless loss"

- "frozen crows"

**Sacred versus Profane, and Spiritual Dissonance:**

- "ebonic hews—chews holy"

- "cannon bones—choke chain—"

- "o née gativo canto—diedie"

- "powersuck satan eye"

**Surrealist Imagery and Clashes:**

- "humpty noosed’n’gallowed—oxyfoxynoxitoxidiedie—"

- "o—void… antinomaly—"

- "mag—o… nan—oo… nun ooooo…"

Each cluster presents a blend of concepts that together form a rich tapestry of meaning, challenging traditional interpretations and evoking a complex emotional landscape. Symbols of death and decay coexist with references to the sacred, while surreal imagery punctuates the scene, suggesting a world in which the boundaries between life and death, holy and unholy, are blurred.

ME: [I asked Dalle-3 to create a vizzie for verse 2. Here is the response.]

ME: I'm going to publish a poem in my newsletter on Substack. I assume you know about the Substack community.

IT: Yes, Substack is a platform that offers a comprehensive support structure for independent writers. It provides an ecosystem where writers can thrive, with access to a community of peers, tech and billing support, publishing best practices, and even legal advice through the Substack Defender program. It’s a great place to publish your poem and connect with readers who appreciate independent writing. If you need any assistance with preparing your poem for publication or have any other questions, feel free to ask.

ME: I'd like you to create an image for my second verse which crystallizes the sharp edges of the visual metaphors and refuses to sugarcoat reality. Can you do that?

[So I go through several rounds of safe cheap cheesy guitar center type fuzzed out vizzies. Here is a sample:]

ME: Capture the visual “powersuck Satan eye.”

Here is another cheesy production I eked from the text-to-visual tool. At this point I was no longer interested in using the vizzy to gain insight into how my poem was doing its thing. I was angry with OpenAI for its ridiculous censorship:

I would have followed the procedure through verse 2 and again through the entire text, but the bot saw something illegal or immoral going on, thank you very much. I was reassured that the poem was working along the lines I wanted in part because the bot was unreasonably indicting me for working on a serious poem. I do want to work on the egg and shell metaphor in a poem, but that work could show up in a different poem. The crow doesn’t stick out in the world of the poem like Jack Hornet’s purple thumb as I feared when I was getting strange crow vizzies like this:

Here is the most provocative vizzy of the whole poem—for me—presented again. It was produced in response to an artificial analysis of verse 1, but I find it salient for the entire poem. I find the bot’s locating the sun in the center of the human’s mind interesting considering all of the language floating among astral bodies outside it as if to say “Humans pass, taking reality (the sun) with them, but language remains with the darkness.” In that sense the poem potentially expresses a more rarefied, subtle sentiment than the vizzy of the crow nesting on the top of a skull. The bot showed evidence that verse 2 is implied by verse 1, a mirror vizzy of it.

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