“This is the Sort of Book We Like”: An AI Reading

As I have already begun to publish videos from Series Two of the Book by Book project, it is time to close Series One. In all, there are eight videos in this series, each offering a little glimpse into my collection … Did you recognize any lines or poets along the way?

Series One offered a more creative and indirect entry point into my collection, hopefully, some found it somewhat interesting: the database / catalog creation and digitization process; the critical-making process or output of the X-bot Projector Poetry; the remix or sampling of poetry; or the video and audio performance of the readings, done by myself as well as AI-voice generators.

Series Two–as seen in the videos of an issue of the New York Times and the 1870Specimens book–offers a peek into what’s next… something a bit different for those who couldn’t quite get into the poetry…

The reading here is an excerpt from the account’s June 2024 posts, read in reverse chronological order, scrolling down the X-account’s history. Like others in this series, this reading uses a free AI voice generator.

“This is the Sort of Book We Like”

Of the tent where I was born.
Of happy fairy days—what tales were told to me!
I am desperate
I watch the moonbeams cast a trail
I have wrapped my dreams in a silken cloth;
only my dreams will wander
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
A bird came down the walk:
.
The winds of heaven mix forever
when only the moon rages.
What I took in my hand–
‘To Speak Of Woe That Is In Marriage’.
Sometimes, our life reminds me
From morn to night, my friend.
A PROMISE to California
on snowing
so many things seem filled with the intent
when I came,
tell them I am still here,
When you see them,
the light is dim.
Because–
Two thrown together
You understand:
there is no house, there is no breakfast,
Is a clean bill of health from the doctor,
oatmeal
Et tu marchais souriante
This is the sort of book we like.

The entire series is available on my YouTube channel and curated on my website.

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