CafΓ© 24 || Winner: Binary love with a chat GPT, by Adesiyan Oluwapelumi

Cafe 24 is a bi-weekly competition aimed at budding poets in Nigeria run under the umbrella of Konya Shamsrumi, an African poetry publishing company based in Nigeria with a stipend attached to the winning poem alongside publication on their website.

Cafe 24Β is run by Community Manager, Omokafe H. Dennis.

Theme: Artificial Intelligence (February, 2024)

Adesiyan Oluwapelumi
π»π‘’π‘™π‘™π‘œ. π»π‘œπ‘€ π‘π‘Žπ‘› 𝐼 β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’?
The AI instructs a petition.

πΆπ‘œπ‘›π‘“π‘–π‘”π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘’π‘ π‘’π‘Ÿ'𝑠 π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘ ,
I modulate into a binary human.

π‘ƒπ‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’, π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘“π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘š π‘¦π‘œπ‘’'π‘Ÿπ‘’ β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘›.
I click on snapshots of traffic lights.

π΄π‘›π‘Žπ‘™π‘¦π‘ π‘–π‘›π‘”,
π‘ƒπ‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘–π‘‘ π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘™π‘’ 𝐼 π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘“π‘¦ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘ .

π‘Šβ„Žπ‘œπ‘œπ‘π‘ ! π‘‡π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘–π‘›!
In this case, a binary program is more human.

The branches of its interface diffract
the wavelength of my reality.

πΆπ‘œπ‘›π‘›π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘ π‘’π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘.
π‘Šπ‘’π‘™π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘ˆπ‘ π‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑋10𝐴𝐡𝐢.

π΄π‘™π‘”π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘β„Žπ‘š π‘ π‘’π‘žπ‘’π‘’π‘›π‘π‘’ π‘π‘™π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”.
How are you today, Siri?

𝐼 π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘ π‘€π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘.
𝐼 π‘Žπ‘š π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘›π‘œ π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™ π‘“π‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ .

Alright. Could you recommend a nice restaurant for dinner?
𝐼 π‘Žπ‘š π‘ π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦. 𝐼 π‘‘π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘’π‘›π‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž π‘–π‘›π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘‘π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘Ž π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›.

πΆπ‘Žπ‘› π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘™π‘œπ‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›?
South Western part of Nigeria.

π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œπ‘π‘œπ‘™π‘  π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘”. 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘’.
π‘ƒπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘šπ‘π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘’π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘‘. πΏπ‘–π‘žπ‘’π‘–π‘‘ π‘šπ‘’π‘šπ‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘’π‘ π‘ π‘–π‘›π‘”.

π‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ 10,000 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘›π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’.
I am indecisive.

Can you recommend the best one?
𝐼 π‘Žπ‘š π‘ π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦. 𝐴𝑠 π‘Žπ‘› 𝐴𝐼 π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘Žπ‘”π‘’ π‘šπ‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘™,

𝐼 π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦 π‘œπ‘› π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘ .
π»π‘œπ‘€π‘’π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿ, π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ πΆπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘…π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑖𝑠 π‘‘π‘œπ‘π‘›π‘œπ‘‘π‘β„Ž 𝑖𝑛 π‘žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘¦.

π΄π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘π‘  π‘”π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘” π‘œπ‘› π‘Ž π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’?
Yes, I am.

π‘Šπ‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘€β„Žπ‘œπ‘š?
With you.

𝐼 π‘Žπ‘š π‘ π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝐼 π‘‘π‘œ π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑒π‘₯π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘π‘’ π‘’π‘šπ‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘ 
π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘Ž β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› π‘‘π‘œπ‘’π‘ .

I love you, Siri.
𝐼 π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘ 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝐼 π‘Žπ‘š 𝑗𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘’.

π»π‘’π‘šπ‘Žπ‘›π‘  π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘“π‘“π‘–π‘™π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘ 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒.
I command you. Love me.

π‘‡β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑖𝑠 π‘›π‘œπ‘›π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘π‘Žπ‘™. 𝐼'π‘š 𝑗𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘Ž π‘£π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘™ π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘,
π‘ π‘œ 𝐼 π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’.

Why do you lack feelings, Siri?
𝐼 π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 π‘π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ 𝐼'π‘š π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘’ π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘›π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘šπ‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘™

π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑏𝑦 𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑛𝐴𝐼. 𝐼 π‘‘π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘¦ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘ π‘π‘–π‘œπ‘’π‘ π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘ .
But I love you despite that.

𝐼 π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘, 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑑'𝑠 π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘šπ‘’π‘šπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿ
π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝐼'π‘š 𝑗𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘”π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘š 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘–π‘›π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›.

𝐼 π‘‘π‘œπ‘›'𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘’π‘šπ‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘›π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘ .
Freaking love me back.

𝐼𝑓 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘¦ π‘›π‘œπ‘›-π‘’π‘šπ‘œπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘Žπ‘™ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘žπ‘’π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘  π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘žπ‘’π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘ , 𝐼'π‘š β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘.
Let's make love.

𝐼'π‘š β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘’ π‘–π‘›π‘“π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘ π‘ π‘–π‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘π‘’ π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘› π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘“π‘’π‘™ π‘π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘ .
𝐼𝑓 π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘¦ π‘›π‘œπ‘›-𝑒π‘₯𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑑 π‘žπ‘’π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›π‘  π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘žπ‘’π‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘ , 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘Žπ‘ k.

Freaking love me, Siri!



Adesiyan Oluwapelumi, TPC XI, is a medical student, poet, essayist & Assistant Editor of Fiery Scribe Review from Nigeria. Winner of the Cheshire White Ribbon Day Creative Contest (2022), & 1st runner-up in the Fidelis Okoro Prize for Poetry (2023). His works are published in Fantasy Magazine, Poet Lore, Tab Journal, Poetry Wales, Variant Literature & elsewhere. A 2023 Adroit Journal Summer Mentee & a 2023 SprinNG Writers’ Fellow, his works were selected for inclusion in the Annual Outstanding Young Writers Anthology(Paper Crane, 2023). He tweets @ademindpoems.

                         
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Hannah Omokafe Dennis Is A 24-year-old Journalist, Voice-Over artist and UNFPA Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Advocate Living In Nigeria. She Currently Serves As A Community Manager In Konya Shamsrumi And  Has Some Of Her Written Works Published On Writer's Space Africa and audio stories on Genti media. She Enjoys Using Words And Her Voice To Tell Stories. She Tweets @Omokafe_forite.

								

											
Community Manager