THE BUILDER'S CHOICE

Grok Converts a Parable into a Poem

Looking for a fresh approach to your Bible reading? Many classic hymns of the Christian faith are essentially theology converted to art. Last night I was curious as to how an AI might translate a passage of Scripture into poetry. Since my current readings have been in the book of Luke, it seemed like a good exercise to see what Grok—the generative AI chatbot developed by X, formerly Twitter—might create.

Here is the passage, followed by Grok’s poetic interpretation.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” —Luke 6:46-49

THE BUILDER’S CHOICE

Why cry "Lord, Lord," yet spurn my call?
Words alone won’t save from the fall.
Listen close, let my truth take hold,
Live it out, be steadfast and bold.

Like a builder wise, with heart sincere,
Digging deep where rock stands near,
Foundation firm, no storm can sway,
Safe through floods, it holds its stay.

But those who hear and turn away,
Ignoring truth for their own play,
Build on sand, no root, no base—
When torrents strike, their house erased.

So choose your ground, let wisdom guide,
Root in rock, where strength abides.
For words unheeded bring despair,
While deeds of faith build homes that bear.

*

A note while wearing my Critic’s Hat: I like the first stanza. The second line in the second stanza is a bit rigid to me. I might add the word “solid” before “rock.” I also have mixed feeling about using away and play after having the previous lines rhyme with the ay sound. It. it were setting up a scheme that reversed the earlier rhymes it would have been an interesting twist. But that didn’t happen. And ending with “homes that bear” doesn’t have the punch I’d prefer.

Nevertheless, it was an interesting exercise and has potential for creating a skeleton that can be re-engineered if suitably edited. Thank you for indulging us. I look forward to seeing what else Grok can do.