Poetry is Still Important in The Modern Society

According to Webster’s Dictionary, “poetry is metrical writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhyme.” If any poet, any lover of words, any enthusiast of the magic they create when strung together in just the right way is asked, every single one of them will give a different answer. This is because poetry is personal. It’s ever changing. If anyone uninvolved in poetry is asked this, only vaguely familiar with the art through high school English, one may receive a simple but terrifying answer; dead. Many believe that poetry is no longer relevant or prominent in the modern world.

However, poetry is not dead. It is kept alive as the result of the spreading of poetry through new outlets, expression in new forms, incorporation of modern verse in everyday life and our tendency to fall back on the art in times of crisis/distress. Throughout history, poetry has been consistently used for one thing; to capture and make you feel time. Written poetry stretches back to ancient societies that used poetry as a way to record cultural events and tell stories. Some of the earliest poetry was written on monoliths, rune stones, and stelae.

The oldest surviving poem is the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” written in 3000 BC Sumer on clay tablets. During the late 19th century, a cultural movement that shifted philosophical, scientific, and political thinking emerged known as Modernism. This marked a turning point for poetry. As modernist writers began to challenge traditional principles of literature through their work, they laid the foundation for future poetic evolution into what poetry is today. T.S. Eliot’s “The Wasteland” became a well known modernist poem. Published in 1922, “The Wasteland” was a reflection of the events of World War I and it experimented with various allusions and styles that strayed from the conventional poetic form of the time.

Other poets such as W.H. Auden and Hart Carne followed in Eliot’s footsteps as they took more poetic risks in their work, little by little revolutionizing the world’s perception and understanding of poetry (Poetry Foundation 1). Recently, intellectuals have been struggling to find a definition encompassing the entirety of this increasingly diverse art. From haikus to slam poems, all poetry tells a story, making us feel a little more human and a little less alone. If poetry has not only survived but thrived throughout the maze of history, how could it now be dead? How could it have made it this far, just to be forgotten?

Poetry is kept alive through its expression in new forms. Some believe that a rigid, definite structure is what makes a poem, and because little work is being produced in the modern world that fits into that template, poetry is dead. However, poetry is not static. It is ever evolving. It cannot be killed, only conveyed in new forms. Change must occur in order to make progress. The structural evolution of poetry is what has allowed it to remain relevant. Modern poetry rejects traditional poetic principles, such as having to follow specific format and reach a level of depth. Modern poetry is approached freely and without censorship, completely raw and real. A major shift in poetry was the general direction of its voice. According to the Atlantic Magazine, “The energy of American poetry, which was once directed outward is now increasingly directed inward”. Poetry being produced with more introspective themes is the evolution, in terms of content, that keeps poetry alive. This allows humans to find pieces of themselves in the words of others. This switch assisted in dissolving the assumption that this art is only relevant to English majors. Anyone living, breathing, struggling, surviving can find peace within a poem.

Another significant shift in poetry was simplicity. Simple poems of only a few lines have made their presence known within the poetic community. Modern poet Rupi Kaur is known for the simplicity of her poetry. One poem from her first collection “milk and honey”consists of only six words; “To be soft is to be powerful”. To bring even more simplicity to her work, Kaur rarely uses capitalization or punctuation in her poetry.

Although her writing is simple, it is beautiful and honest, and you can feel her passion pouring through the pages. This change also assists in keeping poetry alive. While longer, more complex poems may intimidate people and push them further away from poetry, this more concise form attracts new readers. However, simplicity is far from synonymous with meaningless. The raw truth is clearly expressed through such simplicity. There are no layers to dig beneath or complex analysis, just a powerful punch delivered in less than ten lines. A switch to flexible structure and simplicity have given poetry a new connotation; an art form that is freeing, welcoming, and relevant.

Poetry is kept alive through the spreading of poetry through new outlets. Throughout the past decade, social media has increasingly became more prominent in our everyday lives, connecting the world and giving us a way to share memories and stay informed. Some believe that poetry is dead because in this day in age, the world is bombarded with other forms of entertainment such as electronic devices and social media, leaving little need and patience for poetry.

However, these alternative forms of entertainment are not killing poetry, but keeping it alive. The internet allows poetry to spread quickly and reach a larger audience, therefore keeping the art relevant. Social media has become a canvas for poetry, giving rise to modern poets and unique poetic styles. Blurring the line between traditional and modern verse, social media websites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr have played a significant role in extending poetry’s influence, expanding its definition, and keeping it alive. Social media allows for poetry to reach those who otherwise would not be exposed to it. Those not particularly interested in the art may not visit libraries and bookstores to seek out poetry themselves. However, if a few meaningful lines appear on their Instagram ‘explore’ page or Tumblr dashboard, it could foster a new appreciation for or simply an awareness of modern poetry.

Social media poet Rupi Kaur agrees that “art should be accessible to the masses,” and social media is making this accessibility possible, reaching and influencing especially the younger generation. Rupi Kaur is a 25 year old modern poet who emigrated from India to Canada when she was 4 years old. She gained recognition through posting her poetry on Instagram. With over 2.2 million followers on Instagram alone, Kaur shares her passion with the goal to inspire. Kaur published her first poetry collection in 2014 titled “milk and honey.” Her simplistic style and strikingly beautiful and powerful words attracted millions of readers, some well-versed in poetry, many that had never paid a mind to the art before.

Over 2.5 million copies have been sold worldwide. “Milk and honey” has been translated into over 30 languages and is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Kaur’s poetic success in the modern world has earned her the title of the “voice of her generation”. In October 2017, Kaur published her highly anticipated second poetry collection titled “the sun and her flowers,” which quickly became a #1 global bestseller. Soon after its release, Kaur toured 13 cities performing poetry from her new collection in venues throughout the U.S. and Canada. She then went on to perform her poetry across India, pulling poetry off the page and bringing it to life. Both of her collections address topics such as trauma, breaking, healing, growing, femininity and love.

Other influential social media poets such as Tyler Knott Gregson, R.M. Drake, R.H. Sin, Atticus, and Amanda Lovelace (to name a few,) join Kaur in keeping poetry’s flame burning bright by posting daily poems on various platforms for their thousands of followers of all ages to draw inspiration from. The attention Kaur attracted to her poetry proves that poetry does matter and is very much alive. Poetry is kept alive through the incorporation of modern verse into everyday life. We are influenced by our environment. If we are surrounded by poetry, it begins to become a part of us. In March of 2012, the MTA teamed up with the Poetry Society of America to bring poetry to life through the Poetry In Motion Project. This program disperses poetry beneath the busy streets of New York City, appearing on posters in subway cars, on the back of Metro-cards, and on MTA kiosks. These poems are frequently switched out, exposing commuters to a variety of unique poetic voices.

The New York City Subway teems with culture and chaos. Running from platform to platform, it is easy to forget how many paths you are crossing in a matter of seconds that you will never cross again. It is easy to forget that the bodies pressed against each other in crowded cars all have beating hearts. We are all just human. Poetry reminds us of this.

The Poetry In Motion Project incorporates poetry into the mundane everyday. It allows people to escape from their hectic lives if only for a few seconds, and just read raw, beautiful words. Over 4.3 million people ride the New York City Subway everyday. This means over 4.3 million people are exposed to poetry through this project each day. This project is spreading modern verse, keeping it alive. Another program put into motion to keep poetry relevant is the Typewriter Project. Around New York City, booths are set up with vintage typewriters inside, along with long sheets of paper and USBs that send what is typed to a computer. This setup invites passersby to type a poem or even just a single line.

All that is typed is saved and posted online via USB. The goal of this project is to encourage the writing and sharing of poetry, with the mission to “investigate, document, and preserve the poetic subconscious of the city”. These booths have appeared in the past at many locations around New York City, including The Strand Bookstore (2017), Tompkins Square Park (2015), and McCarren Park (2016). This project encourages the public to get involved in poetry, proving that poetry is still alive. Another program incorporating poetry into the world is the Poetry in Zoos Project. Set up by Poets House, this project was “designed to deepen public awareness of environmental issues through poetry”.

Permanent poetry displays were installed in wildlife exhibits, and inspired programs blending nature and poetry in zoos and libraries across the United States. The program took root in locations such as The Central Park Zoo in New York City, and zoos throughout Florida, Illinois, Arkansas, Wisconsin, etc. Not only did the poetry displays make “zoo visitors more aware of the impact humans have on ecosystems”, but they demonstrated the importance of poetry’s connection to the world.

Another movement encouraging the use of poetry to address worldly issues and injustices is Youth Speaks. Youth Speaks is a San Francisco based organization that challenges young adults to find their voices and spark change through spoken word poetry. Youth Speaks organizes youth poetry slams, workshops, and festivals, and “...helped launch a national network of over 70 programs who believes in the power of young people”. This organization shows the true power of poetry when combined with a passionate spirit. Poetry can open eyes and change minds. Youth Speaks allows revolutionary young voices to thrive and prove poetry matters.

These projects, programs, and organizations incorporate modern verse into everyday life, playing a significant role in keeping poetry alive. Poetry is kept alive due to human tendency to fall back upon the art in times of crisis and distress. In times of crisis, we, not only individually, but as a people, turn towards poetry to make sense of trauma too devastating an evil to understand. Poetry touches hearts and brings people together when everything seems to be falling apart. During the aftermath of 9/11, a poem written by W.H. Auden resurfaced. The poem titled “September 1st 1939” was “written in response to Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland”. In this time of nationwide grief and sorrow, this poem, along with other works, brought people together. Devastation reflected through art brings a better understanding to situations. Poetry can explain the incomprehensible. According to Erin Murphy, a professor of English and creative writing at Penn State, “There is something about human truth expressed in poetry that has the power to reach us on both an emotional and intellectual level”.

When we fall into darkness, poetry’s flame continues to burn bright. When we are unsure of what move to make next, poetry lights the way. An art so vital to human connection cannot be killed. The clarity provided by poetry and human need for such comfort and clarity is what keeps the art alive.

Poetry is not something that is measured. It is not something meant to be poked and prodded in order to extract a conclusion. Its foundation is not facts and figures, but feeling. As humans, as creatures of raw emotion that diffuses through our bones, seeping through skin, we need poetry. It brings comfort, clarity, and provides a common ground. Through the spreading of poetry through new outlets, expression in new forms, incorporation of modern verse into everyday life, and human tendency to fall back on the art in time of crisis and distress, poetry’s flame continues to burn bright. Poetry matters because we are making it matter. If poetry is dead, how could it remind us that we are alive?