Someone asks you, “What is poetry?” What do you tell them? More importantly, do you think you can explain it in a way that he or she will understand and appreciate poetry once you’re done? Poetry is incredibly difficult to define, because it is something wonderfully different to every person. To one person, poetry is simple nursery rhymes: tales that teach kids to share, take risks, and be nice. To another person, however, poetry reveals something within him- or herself regarding their place in the world: it shows what it means to be honest and vulnerable, tells stories inspiring bravery and risk-taking, and helps us tackle subjects that might otherwise make us uncomfortable. Our reasons for writing, reading, and enjoying poetry are varied, but no matter the cause, poetry’s effects remain consistent across the board: it’s all about expression. In this chapter, you’ll look at poetry through a wide-angle lens to get the big picture. First, you’ll read about the history of poetry to understand its origins. After that, you’ll learn about poetry’s varied uses, and finally, you’ll return to the twenty-first century, where you’ll see how even the most delicate subject becomes relatable through poetry.
Millennia have passed since people began exploring the art of expression, and in that time we’ve experienced major advances in medicine, education, technology, and countless other fields. But there are a rare few wheels that, even after 2,000 years of advancement, simply do not require reinvention. Poetry has definitely seen its share of additions, but the forms and general composition of poetry from ancient days are still in use today. Okay no, we aren’t burning our poems into wood or chiseling them into stone—but as far as the basics are concerned, poetry is the same today as it was back when Homer first recounted his epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey.
The term epic might be a little confusing: nowadays epic is mostly used to describe something incredible (dinner was epic, an epic fail, or, “Epic wave, brah [toss a shaka]!”). However, back when the Greek poet known as Homer was composing his works, people knew epics to be grand tales that told the history (albeit a slightly embellished version) of a region, hero, or legend. If you’ve ever read Homer’s epics, you know how novel-like they are: The Odyssey on its own is more than four hundred pages long. It may surprise you, though, to learn that back in Homer’s day, epics were usually non-rhyming and recited orally instead of being written. Chew on that for a moment: when was the last time you told a story from memory that was twenty pages long—let alone four hundred?
And Homer wasn’t even the first of his kind! Poetry goes back so far that no one knows for sure when the first poem was spoken. It’s an art form that has been used by people from all walks of life to entertain, inspire, and teach. Need to learn the alphabet? There’s a rhyme for that. Are you feeling bummed out and need some upbeat lyrics to brighten your day? Done. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a situation that hasn’t been written about in a poem at some point in history, and rightly so! We are deeply expressive, and as society grows and we interact with the world around us, new experiences are created every minute, so it’s only fitting that we not only record those events but also appreciate them for the unique insights and realizations they provide.
Take the talented Rupi Kaur, for example. She is one of the most popular poets of this generation, following the self-publication of her collection, Milk and Honey, in 2014. Her works touch frequently on uncomfortable, even taboo topics such as violence, loss, abuse, and feminism. Because she expresses her thoughts and feelings on these sensitive subjects through poetry, though, they are easier to relate to and are more open for discussion, learning, and growth. Poetry allows us to take the most difficult aspects of life—the ugliest of the ugly—and turn them into something to laugh about or something to learn from—something we can truly appreciate.
Poetry is rich with diversity, complexity, and creativity, which is clearly evident when comparing two people as seemingly opposite as Homer and Rupi Kaur! And now it is time to shift the focus to you (the contemporary poet), your poetry, and everything you can do to put your name up there with the other poetic giants of history. Are you ready?