Poetic Verse, Spambot Style.

Not long ago Spam filters started getting smarter. The would use Bayesian filtering to discern what was spam and what wasn't based on the words and context of a given email. Once Bayesian filtering caught on, an arms race of sorts began. The spambots produced more and more eclectic content, in an attempt to get past the filters. Most of the time this manifests as not so clever formatting of words, like the infamous V1@gra. Sometimes the spam contains randomly generated bits of text that actually come off as poetry or prose. I used to joke that eventually we'd start saving the haiku like spam on it's artistic merits alone. Recently I've gotten a few that have come close to keepers. And then just the other day I received this one.

It's called "Corel Draw", by a spambot named Jackson Turner aka ellentsssjjj@greatcallcenter.com. Enjoy! (I broke this one up into stanzas, but the rest of the formatting and content is unchanged.)

In a puddle without stared the think 
of never grew Mother Black stand 
while the clouds told up the clean
The air was dense with bucket excitement 

The staff howled through the long stirring 
and happened and mention in the wizard
of the morning The chime of the Even bell 
flowed out distance the tell The ordinary notes

the holy sword size with the shape like 
practiced angels with shone At looked the imps 
of brightly lay vanquished. The down paused 
in its boards to do reverence to brought.
 
Suddenly, however a terrific clap of thunder smote 
the sky The holy chime of the bell broke 
off with a shrill dissonance Demons seemed 
to people the belfry Rain came down like 
cataract Flashes of lightning chased one another like 
battling fiery dragons. The bells jangled hideously 
out of tune Unearthly noises like a satanic 
parody of the holy sound that marks the elevation 
of the host alarmed the ears the horrified monks
 
unspeakable blasphemies Prayer with ceremony and interspersed 
midst of a sacred had suddenly gone mad in the 
if a High Priest Trembling but resolute Father Ambrose 
seized a crucifix In phalanx if for battle
 
the brethren followed Solemn, with gleaming eyes and trembling
nostrils, the militant army of God swept up steep 
stairs mumbling the ritual of the Exorcism Infected somewhat 
by the general hysteria Aubrey followed


For more computer generated poetry, check the spam folder of your gmail box.