Poets have always been experts at wielding language with precision. Whether through free verse or carefully curated quotes, every word is chosen to evoke emotion, meaning, and depth. Interestingly, the emerging field of prompt engineering—crafting inputs for large language models like ChatGPT—shares much with the art of poetry. Poets are uniquely positioned to excel in this new space because of their ability to shape language with intent.
Prompt engineering is about guiding artificial intelligence (AI) to generate a specific, meaningful response. It requires carefully constructing questions and statements to influence how the model interprets and answers. This process is strikingly similar to the way poets craft lines of verse. In both disciplines, clarity and creativity go hand in hand, with precision being the key to unlocking powerful results.
The Power of Precision
In prompt engineering, the phrasing of a question or prompt directly affects the quality of the response. A general prompt like "What is love?" will generate a broad answer, while something more specific, like "Describe love as a quiet evening rain," creates a vivid, poetic response. The better the prompt, the richer the output.
Poets already know the importance of precise language. In modern free verse, every word matters, and every line is carefully selected to carry weight and meaning. The minimalist structure of Instagram-style poetry depends on this. In the same way that prompt engineers tweak a phrase to refine an AI response, poets revise their lines until the exact emotion or image is communicated. Both crafts depend on using the right words to evoke the right reaction.
The Importance of Context
Context is another area where poets and prompt engineers overlap. In poetry, the meaning of a word or phrase can shift depending on its surrounding context. A single line can suggest an entire world of emotion, relationships, or imagery. Poets use this to their advantage, carefully balancing what is said and what is implied.
Prompt engineers similarly rely on context to shape AI outputs. A well-crafted prompt provides just enough information to guide the model toward a specific response without overwhelming it. For example, "Describe a sunset" will yield a general description, but "Describe a sunset over a calm sea with orange clouds" produces a more vivid and creative output. Both poets and prompt engineers must balance providing enough context for clarity and leaving room for interpretation.
Iteration: The Poet's Process Meets AI
For both poets and prompt engineers, iteration is essential. A poem rarely emerges fully formed. It takes multiple drafts, rewrites, and refinements to ensure that every word and line serves its purpose. Whether revising the structure of a stanza or finding a new way to express a familiar theme, poets know the value of returning to their work to make it stronger.
Prompt engineers follow a similar process. The first version of a prompt may not generate the desired response, so it's tweaked and refined until the AI produces something that feels right. Both poetry and prompt engineering involve trial and error, a conversation between creator and medium, and refining until the result resonates.
AI as a Creative Tool
Generative AI models have become tools not only for technical tasks but also for creative expression. These models can assist writers, generate ideas, and inspire new forms of artistic creation. The relationship with AI can be seen as a collaborative process for poets. Just as prompts guide the AI, poets guide the reader, using carefully crafted lines to unlock meaning and emotion. AI models extend this creative process, providing poets new ways to explore language.
When working with AI, the intentionality behind each word in the prompt determines the outcome, much like how a poem's success depends on the poet's word choices. Poets understand how to give language direction and form, making them a natural fit for prompt engineering.
Why Poets Make Great Prompt Engineers
Poets are already well-versed in the skills needed for prompt engineering. Precision in language, awareness of context, and a dedication to iteration are all integral to both crafts. Poets naturally understand how to shape language to elicit powerful responses, whether from readers or from an AI.
As more creatives explore the intersection of AI and writing, poets stand to benefit from engaging with prompt engineering. This new technology allows poets to extend their skills into a new realm, innovatively working with language. By harnessing the power of generative AI, poets can unlock new forms of expression, guiding the AI's outputs with the same artistry and care they apply to their work.
The end goal of both poetry and prompt engineering is the same: to communicate something meaningful and resonant through the careful use of language.