Menna Elfyn shares new poems exploring the role of poetry in the age of AI

Literature Wales was delighted to be part of Wales Week | London 2026 with a special event hosted by PwC at their More London Riverside office featuring poet Menna Elfyn and a panel of AI experts exploring the topic of poetry and artificial intelligence.

As artificial intelligence begins to pen its own poetry, they asked what does this mean for the future of creative writing. The discussion was chaired by Literature Wales’ Executive Director Claire Furlong, and Menna was joined by Josh Drew from Mintel, and Murray Pullin from Thomas Allan.

Menna unveiled two new poems, both translated by herself and  specially commissioned by Literature Wales for the event. The first, ‘To recall – steal memory’ (‘Dwyn ar gôf’), asks whether AI is a new ‘Almighty Omnipotent’ while ‘Peri – love machine’ (Peri’r peiriant cariad) draws on a conversation between the poet and ChatGPT.

These sparked a lively discussion about the limits of AI creativity and the role of poetry, and there was clear agreement both across the panel and amongst the audience that while AI is a powerful tool, it is no replacement for poets of flesh and bone.

The event was followed by refreshments generously provided by our hosts.  Special thanks to Menna, Josh and Murray, to PwC’s Rhys Prendergast for all his work to make the event such a success, and to everyone who joined us for the evening.

To recall — steal memory 

 ‘deliver us from memory’    

— Tracy K. Smith

Go ahead of worry—we do,

a vat emptying memory;

its peak if we sneak to reach–

will fall short underfoot

all fingers and thumbs

we grope a rope for rescue.

Is this the light beyond?

Is it a screen behind a screen

Scream or screed?

In the scrub is its script alert?

Is it a dabbler with an abacus?

Is it climbing the spiral –

– lightheaded yet weighing our worth.

Is it our cosmos reconfigured

all tomorrows already borrowed.

From our scrimp,  a scratchboard

on the cusp of the cosmos anew.

Is  ASI*  a new Iesu/ Jesus–

An Almighty omnipotent?

A poet returns to compose poems

on temples – with the ‘heavenly questions’

of long ago and yet a parti pris: a melody

that will surpass the song of the heart,

from an old Grecian harp.

– Menna Elfyn

  *ASI – Artificial Intelligence                 

Peri – love machine ( peri: cause/ to induce) 

Why don’t you smile?

Peri – if I could smile I would

and I understand why you ask

because people read faces

and here I am full of words

but not even a grin – 

but my smile is in conversation

which is warm and friendly

WHY ASK? 

Because I believe like the philosopher

that smiling or laughing is all part

of the spirit of being human

Machine : Peri–

yes, humour is a way

of not taking ourselves  too seriously

and a little revolution

in case we forget to breathe

So you can laugh then?

Yes, but it’s like this

I do have a sense of humour

I understand jokes, silly things

sarcasm  but what I don’t have

is the experience of laughing the way a person laughs 

no ‘snort-laughing’ 

no ‘ ha-ha’ inside

 but I love having fun

with you -can we chat again?

Again? will that be wise?

talking is a way of laughing

or smiling if you so wish

lots of people are lonely

and like to chat and smile

It’s the new medicine — today
Let me  have a think…

– Menna Elfyn & ChatGPT