Poem Generator

By Naomi Habtu

Process

I wanted my digital media piece to incorporate the two things I love, poetry and coding, so I decided to create a poem generator. I initially used Python to code it, because that was the coding language I knew, but I learned to transcribe it into HTML so the poem generator could be accessed through my Glitch website.

Meet the Pair

Mentee Naomi Habtu & Mentor Kristen Gaerlan

Naomi’s Anecdote: I am so grateful that Kristen decided to stay at Girls Write Now for another year. When she told me she might not be able to make the commitment, I held back tears. From the first day I met her, she has been incredibly supportive of not only my writing but all my endeavors. From short, timed free-writes to writing about random objects I observe, she has patiently pushed me to feel less intimidated by blank pages and more comfortable with slowly filling them up. I’m sad that this will be my last year at Girls Write Now, but I know my time with Kristen will be far from over.

Kristen’s Anecdote: The first time I tasked Naomi with a timed free-write, I was a bit nervous. I sensed her introverted nature and worried that I was pushing her too hard. However, not only did she craft something incredible, but she also asked for more timed free-writes. She wanted me to push her and her writing, so I did. Since then, I’ve watched her cultivate her talent and charge through senior year with both confidence and resilience. This year has been transformative for Naomi, and I feel so honored to simply be a part of it.