Poetry, Poetry, Poetry

po·em

ˈpōəm,pōm/

noun

1.) A piece of writing that partakes of the nature of both speech and song that is nearly always rhythmical, usually metaphorical, and often exhibits such formal elements as meter, rhyme, and stanzaic structure.

 synonyms: verse, rhyme, piece of poetry, song

2.) Something that arouses strong emotions because of its beauty.

Lately I’ve noticed there are more and more poems floating around on Instagram and Facebook. Many of them are images of scribbled notes on parchment paper or a few lines written on a typewriter to give them a vintage feel. Not everyone is an English major so it’s no surprise that teens and young adults aren’t jumping at the chance to read Sylvia Plath, Henry David Thoreau, W. B. Yeats, and Robert Frost, BUT I’ve noticed that if you write out your favorite poem on some card stock, add a “Ludwig” filter, and share it on social media, readers of all ages are suddenly very interested in poetry—even if they don’t realize that’s what they’re reading.

Some of the poets I’ve come across in the last few years include r.m. drake, Lang Leav, Earnest, and Tyler Knott. I could spend hours on their Instagram accounts reading each short snippet of raw emotion. Some poets like Tyler Knott Gregson and Lang Leav have also published multiple books of their compiled work revitalizing printed poetry in today’s literary world.

But I have to say, because of these writers, my definition of poetry is shifting. Both definitions above accurately define what poetry is, but I find myself identifying with the second one much more than the first. The surprising part is that until the rise of poetry on social media, I would have said that the first definition explains the style and structure of poetry and the second signifies what poetry does.

Now, I see the second entry as a definition all on its own. Why? Because most of this contemporary poetry doesn’t rhyme, doesn’t necessary follow a meter or stanzaic structure, and it doesn’t “look” like the poetry I would have read in my many literature classes. But, it nonetheless is poetry and whatever its structure and format, it seems to be working because I’ve never seen so many “likes” and reposts of a few simple words strung together.

So enjoy yet another “vintage” post of some poetry scribbled out on paper and keep an eye out for the way social media is influencing poetry and vice versa.