In 1968, Scottish poet Edwin Morgan crafted The Computer’s First Christmas Card, a groundbreaking work that combined cutting-edge technology with innovative poetic form. This poem heralded a new era of poetry that did not just use language to communicate meaning but also embraced visual and technological elements to shape its expression. Morgan’s poem remains a celebrated example of concrete poetry and is widely recognized for foreseeing the intersection of art and computing long before digital creativity became mainstream.
This article explores how Edwin Morgan effectively blended poetry and technology in The Computer’s First Christmas Card, analyzing the poem’s form, technological references, and its enduring literary and cultural impact.
The Technological Context of the 1960s
The late 1960s marked a period of intense technological innovation. Computers were evolving rapidly, yet they remained largely mysterious to the general public. Early computers printed output on line printers producing uniformly spaced characters on continuous paper. These printouts were emblematic of mechanical precision and the dawning digital age.
Morgan’s poem mimics this printout style by employing a typographic arrangement that evokes the look of computer-generated text. At this time, artists and writers were beginning to experiment with new media, and Morgan’s work was part of a broader movement exploring cybernetics, digital art,
oand technological influence on culture.
Concrete Poetry as the Perfect Medium
The Computer’s First Christmas Card is a striking example of concrete poetry, a genre where the physical arrangement of words, letters, and spaces contributes as much to meaning as the words themselves. Concrete poetry emphasizes:
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Visual impact: The shape and layout on the page create images or patterns related to the poem’s theme.
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Typographic experimentation: Use of spacing, font, alignment to augment semantic content.
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Blending language and art: The poem becomes both a literary and visual object.
Morgan used concrete poetry because it perfectly captured the aesthetic and mechanical feel of a computer printout, reinforcing the thematic match between the poem’s form and content.
The Poem’s Typographic Design
Morgan arranged the lines of the poem in a in a carefully spaced and aligned manner resembling early computer printouts. The poem’s whimsical phrases like “jollymerry hollyberry jollyberry” invoke the mechanical stutter and quirks of text generated by a primitive machine trying to produce human language. The typographic pattern echoes the repetitive and regular spacing characteristic of line printers.
Through this visual design, Morgan successfully simulates the machine’s “voice,” blending the mechanical and artistic in a seamless experience.
Technology Embedded in Language
The poem’s language reflects early computing concepts—notably error-prone translations and the merging of bits of data into compound words. Morgan’s playful invented phrases evoke a computer’s trial-and-error way of generating meaningful output. The poem breaks traditional grammar and syntax rules,
emphasizing the hybrid nature of technological communication.
This forward-looking linguistic experimentation foreshadows contemporary AI-generated language and human-machine dialogue.
Cultural and Artistic Significance
Morgan’s blending of poetry and technology was unprecedented at the time, inspiring artists and poets to reconceptualize poetry in the digital age. His poem was featured at the Cybernetic Serendipity exhibition in London,
a groundbreaking showcase of computer art.
More broadly, Morgan’s work marks a moment when technology became not just a tool but a partner in creative expression—an idea now central to digital literature, algorithmic art, and multimedia storytelling.
The Legacy of the Poem Today
Today, Morgan’s The Computer’s First Christmas Card continues to resonate because:
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It prefigures digital poetics and the rise of electronic literature.
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It demonstrates how form, technology, and content can synergize to produce innovative art.
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It serves as a cultural touchstone in discussions about AI and creativity.
Many contemporary poets and digital artists cite Morgan as a pioneer who bridged humanistic poetry and technological possibilities.
A High Authority Resource
For more about concrete poetry and Morgan’s work, the Scottish Poetry Library provides excellent resources:
The Computer’s First Christmas Card – Scottish Poetry Library
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to the Poinsettia Plant Christmas Flower: History and Care Tips
Conclusion
Edwin Morgan’s The Computer’s First Christmas Card stands as a seminal work blending poetry with technology. His innovative use of concrete poetry and thematic embrace of computing foreshadowed today’s digital creative landscape,
proving that poetry can evolve with and thrive alongside technological change.
This pioneering poem not only captures a festive moment but also marks a timeless celebration of human creativity amplified by technology.
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