Output a randomly chosen poem by emily dickinson. Poems were retrieved from Project Gutenberg. Optionally download and parse the poems straight from the source!

To print a poem, add the --print flag to main.py!

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$ python3 withfeathers/withfeathers.py --print --decorate --time
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XXXVII.
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VOID.
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Great streets of silence led away
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To neighborhoods of pause;
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Here was no notice, no dissent,
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No universe, no laws.
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By clocks 't was morning, and for night
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The bells at distance called;
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But epoch had no basis here,
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For period exhaled.
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~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
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time elapsed: 39.45207595825195 ms

A really good R implementation (and inspiration for this program) is this one! -> Display a random Emily Dickinson poem (Gutenberg edition)

Installation

0. Prerequisites

python 3 :: for running the script.

git :: for a quick git clone.

If you are running Windows, the above utilities will be packaged in any of the following: babun, cmder, or Linux Subsystem for Windows. Take your pick! : )

The above utilities should be installed (or readily available) if you are running a Unix derivative (such as Linux, macOS, or any of the BSD’s).

1. Quickstart

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# clone the git repo
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git clone https://github.com/lbeckman314/withFeathers
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# enter directory
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cd withFeathers
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# setup dependencies
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python3 -m venv venv
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source venv/bin/activate
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pip install flask
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# run the development flask server (http://localhost:5000)
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FLASK_APP=withfeathers/server.py flask run
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# run the script
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python3 withfeathers.py --print --time

Uninstallation

Delete the directory.

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rm -rfI withFeathers

Documentation

Poems will be downloaded into a file (e.g. pg12242.txt) in main.py’s working directory. The file will then be parsed into individual poem files into a directory (e.g. emilyPoems), from which random poems will be selected.

python main.py --help will print all options accepted by main.py.

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$ python withfeathers/main.py --help
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usage: main.py [-h] [-c] [-d] [-f FILENAME] [-o OUTPUTDIR] [-p] [-r] [-t]
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               [-u URL] [-v]
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Print some poems!
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optional arguments:
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  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
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  -c, --clean           remove files/dirs after run (default: False)
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  -d, --decorate        decorate the output (default: False)
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  -f FILENAME, --filename FILENAME
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                        specify filename of source file (default: pg12242.txt)
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  -o OUTPUTDIR, --outputDir OUTPUTDIR
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                        specify directory path of poem files (default:
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                        emilyPoems)
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  -p, --print           print poems to stdout (default: False)
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  -r, --randomoff       toggle picking random poem (default: False)
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  -t, --time            print time elapsed to stdout (default: False)
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  -u URL, --url URL     specify source url
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  -v, --version         show program's version number and exit