# Haiku Are Like Trolleys (There'll Be Another One Along in a Moment)

> creative work by Robert Gaskins

**Wikidata**: [Q132204035](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132204035)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/haiku-are-like-trolleys-there-ll-be-another-one-along-in-a-moment

## Summary
*Haiku Are Like Trolleys (There'll Be Another One Along in a Moment)* is a creative work and software application authored by Robert Gaskins in 1973. Recognized as an early example of digital poetry and generative literature, it was written using the SNOBOL4 programming language and ran on the CDC 6400 platform. The work represents an intersection of computer science and literary arts, utilizing code to generate poetic text.

## Key Facts
- **Author:** Robert Gaskins
- **Publication Date:** 1973
- **Instance of:** Creative work, Application
- **Genre:** Digital poetry, Generative literature
- **Platform:** CDC 6400
- **Programming Language:** SNOBOL4
- **Language:** English
- **Distribution Format:** Printed matter
- **ELMCIP ID:** 10412

## FAQs
### Q: What type of work is *Haiku Are Like Trolleys (There'll Be Another One Along in a Moment)*?
A: It is a work of digital poetry and generative literature created using computer software. It functions both as a piece of creative writing and as a software application.

### Q: What technology was used to create and run this work?
A: The work was programmed using SNOBOL4, a language designed for text manipulation and pattern matching. It was executed on the CDC 6400 computer platform.

### Q: Who created *Haiku Are Like Trolleys (There'll Be Another One Along in a Moment)*?
A: The work was created by Robert Gaskins and was originally published/distributed in 1973.

## Why It Matters
*Haiku Are Like Trolleys (There'll Be Another One Along in a Moment)* is significant as a pioneering artifact in the history of digital literature and computational creativity. Created in 1973 by Robert Gaskins, it stands as an early exploration into how computer algorithms can be used to generate literary art, pre-dating the modern proliferation of digital media.

By utilizing SNOBOL4—a programming language specifically tailored for complex pattern matching and text manipulation—Gaskins leveraged specific technical capabilities to address artistic challenges. The work exemplifies the experimental spirit of the early computing era, where resources like the CDC 6400 were employed to push the boundaries of traditional creative formats. Its distribution as printed matter also highlights the technological constraints of the time, serving as a historical marker for how computer-generated content was physically disseminated before the advent of modern digital displays and networks.

## Notable For
- **Early Digital Poetry:** Represents an early instance of digital poetry and generative literature from the early 1970s.
- **Specific Technical Implementation:** Utilized SNOBOL4, a language distinct for its pattern matching capabilities, specifically for text generation.
- **Mainframe Platform:** Ran on the CDC 6400, anchoring it in the history of mainframe computing.
- **Hybrid Classification:** Functions dually as a creative literary work and a software application.

## Body
### Overview and Authorship
*Haiku Are Like Trolleys (There'll Be Another One Along in a Moment)* is a creative work authored by Robert Gaskins. It is classified as both a piece of creative writing and a software application designed for end-users. The work was published in 1973 and is written in the English language.

### Technical Specifications
The software component of the work was developed using SNOBOL4, a programming language noted for its utility in complex pattern matching and text manipulation. The intended platform for the application was the CDC 6400 computer. This choice of language and platform suggests the work relied on sophisticated text processing capabilities available at the time.

### Genre and Distribution
The work is categorized within the genres of digital poetry and generative literature. Unlike modern digital works which may be experienced on screens, the distribution format for this title was "printed matter," indicating that the output of the generative process was likely compiled and physically printed for consumption. The work is indexed in the ELMCIP (Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice) knowledge base under the ID 10412.