Turning My Poetry into Songs with AI – Real Examples
When Poetry Sings: My Journey Turning Poems into Songs with Artificial Intelligence
“Poetry is silent song… so why not let it sing out loud?”
For over a decade, I’ve been writing on this literary and cultural blog — soaring with words, whispering to readers through poems and essays, dissecting culture, reshaping ideas with ink that never dries. But in recent years, I began to feel something was missing… as if the poem, despite its beauty, remained imprisoned on the page — unable to reach those who don’t read, or touch those living in a world of sound and motion.
That’s when the experiment began.
The Experiment I Never Planned
I never imagined I’d sit in front of a screen one day, transforming verses I wrote in moments of sorrow, rage, or love, into full songs. I didn’t have a professional voice, a studio, or even deep musical training. All I had were poems, an idea, and an irresistible curiosity.
I started searching, experimenting, failing — then trying again. I discovered that artificial intelligence isn’t a replacement for talent, but rather a bridge — stretching between what I possess (the word) and what I lack (melody, arrangement, sometimes even voice). It wasn’t magic, as some claim. It was a painstaking process requiring human intervention, artistic taste, and emotional intelligence no machine can replicate.
How Did the Transformation Happen?
It wasn’t a button I pressed to turn poetry into song. No.
First, I had to choose the right poem — one with an internal rhythm, imagery that could be sonically embodied, and emotions that could be sung. Then, I’d deconstruct it: line by line, word by word. I’d define the mood: Is it sad? Angry? Romantic? Mystical?
Next, I’d use AI tools to generate a preliminary melody, then refine it — rearrange, layer sounds, and sometimes blend in my own human voice — even if imperfect — because authenticity matters more than technical perfection.
And most importantly: I refuse to let artificial intelligence be the “artist.” I am the artist. The machine is merely a tool — like a pen, a string, or a sculptor’s chisel.
Real Examples: Songs Born from Poetry
You’ll find the fruits of this experiment on my music blog: Music Beyond Borders – Ali Taha Alnobani. Not all are perfect — but all are honest. Here are some standout examples:
“Rifle or Violin?” — Rifle or Violin?
A poem I wrote in a moment of anger against violence, transformed into a hymn for peace. I used a slow, heartbeat-like rhythm — as if calming after battle. AI helped create the dramatic atmosphere, but every musical decision — every pause, every swell — was deeply human.
“Dove & Letters” — Dove & Letters
Here, I turned a love poem written during wartime into a ghostly ballad — like a message from another era. The machine provided virtual violin
