By Nick Grabbe

When I heard that Taylor Swift is a relative of Amherst’s own Emily Dickinson, I wondered what they would say to each other. But two women who were born 160 years apart can’t have a dialogue, can they? 

Well, using artificial intelligence, it’s easy to imagine what their interaction would sound like. So we asked ChatGPT to let these two creative superstars have a conversation. The result is below.

Ancestry.com recently revealed that Swift and Dickinson are sixth cousins, three times removed. They share an ancestor, a 17th-century English settler in Connecticut named Jonathan Gillette.

This family connection might seem trivial, but Swift has cited Dickinson’s influence on her songwriting, and her ninth album, “Evermore,” may have been named for a line in a Dickinson poem. And it was released on Dickinson’s birthday.

The Emily Dickinson Museum’s Instagram account conveyed this message to Swift: “It’s time to plan your visit to the museum.”

Here’s the prompt that we gave to ChatGPT: “Generate an imaginary and dramatic dialogue between Emily Dickinson and Taylor Swift, beginning with Taylor’s claim that she is a relative of Emily.”

Here’s how it responded: 

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Taylor Swift: Emily, you might find this surprising, but I’ve discovered that I am a relative of yours. I feel a profound connection to your poetry and spirit.

Emily Dickinson: A descendant? How curious. I’ve long felt my words would transcend time, but to have a connection in this way is unexpected. Tell me, how do you express yourself in your era?

Taylor Swift: Through music, primarily. I write songs that capture emotions and experiences, much like your poetry. It’s amazing to think that your introspective verses have echoed through the generations to influence my work.

Emily Dickinson: Music, you say? How fascinating. I always believed there was a melody in my verses, an unspoken tune that might be heard by those who truly listened. What themes do you explore in your songs?

Taylor Swift: Love, heartbreak, identity, and personal growth. I try to be as honest and introspective as possible. Your work taught me the power of raw emotion and the beauty in solitude.

Emily Dickinson: Those are profound themes, indeed. The heart’s afflictions and joys are timeless. Do you find solace in your solitude, as I did in mine?

Taylor Swift: Yes, though it took me time to appreciate it. I often felt pressured by the public eye, but your poetry helped me see the strength in embracing one’s inner world.

Emily Dickinson: Solitude can be both a sanctuary and a prison. It seems you’ve found a balance that eluded me. How do you manage the dichotomy of public life and private self?

Taylor Swift: It’s a delicate dance. I use my music to reveal parts of myself, while also keeping some aspects hidden. Your life in reclusion taught me that not everything must be shared to be meaningful.

Emily Dickinson: Wise words, Taylor. In your songs, do you find the same solace and catharsis that I found in my poems?

Taylor Swift: Absolutely. Writing is my therapy, my way of making sense of the chaos around me. I imagine it was similar for you, pouring your soul onto paper in the quiet of your room.

Emily Dickinson: Indeed, it was my way of understanding the world and my place within it. I am glad to know my words have traveled through time to inspire you. Perhaps, in a way, we are kindred spirits, connected by our shared love for the written word.

Taylor Swift: I believe we are, Emily. Your influence is a beacon for me, guiding my journey as I continue to write and sing about the human experience. Thank you for paving the way.

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While Swift’s latest album sold 2.6 million copies in its first week, Dickinson’s poems were virtually unknown in her lifetime. While Swift bounces around stages all around the world in elaborate costumes, Dickinson spent much of her sedate life in her family house on Main Street in Amherst.

But an analysis of the words they wrote and the themes they pursued has detected some similarities between the two. They both write about the sorrow of lovers who can’t be together, storms and shipwreck as an analogy for intense feelings, and the criticism of fame, according to critic Laura Randazzo. She asks if Swift is a “modern Dickinson.”

And in 2022, Swift said while accepting an award, “My lyrics sound like a letter written by Emily Dickinson’s great-grandmother while sewing a lace curtain.”

This post was corrected; Taylor Swift is a relative of Emily Dickinson, not a descendant.