So what does a contemporary poet look like? Chances are you see one every time you look in the mirror! There are, however, some common threads that tie twenty-first-century poets like you together.
The contemporary poet is not only influenced by modern themes, but also by modern technology. Technology plays an important role in how we read and share poetry today, and it is a driver of what is popular in the genre. Where William Shakespeare had the Globe Theatre, the twenty-first-century writer has social media. And while Shakespeare was limited to the page, you—the contemporary poet—are only limited by your access to an Internet connection.
Well-known contemporary poets like Rupi Kaur, Atticus, Lang Leav, and Christopher Poindexter began their careers by posting on the social media platform, Instagram. They, along with countless others like them, are leading a renaissance of this time-honored literary form, and based on the hundreds of thousands of poetry accounts and millions of poems shared across multiple digital platforms, it is obvious that #poetryisnotdead.
Technology—specifically social media—is not only shaping how we share and read poetry; it is also shaping contemporary poetic forms. Just as ancient epics and Shakespearean sonnets created influential movements, digital poetry is changing what we write and how we write it. Social media platforms support brevity; in order to make a connection in this fast-paced, easily-distracted world, a poem often needs to be able to be read within minutes, or even seconds. This need for brevity has led to the rise in popularity of micropoetry.
A micropoem is simply a short poem of no more than one hundred words and two verses. In the world of digital poetry, if you are looking to grow your followers, length is everything. The most popular poetry accounts on Instagram and Facebook are the ones that specialize in micropoems, and poetry on Twitter is restricted to 280 characters, or the length of a tweet. These poems have their very own genre, known as Twitterature.
The visual nature of these sharing platforms has also sparked the blending of words and art. Contemporary poets have embraced background images and illustrations to enhance their poems, and depict what a poem is describing. The ability to manipulate images using free phone apps means that poets can do this quickly, easily, and without having to pay for expensive software. Poets have also taken to the digital stage and spoken word is becoming increasingly popular.
Modern ideals like individuality and freedom of expression have also influenced poetic structure. Contemporary poets often write in free verse, using modern language and colloquialisms (expressions using informal, conversational style). Instead of the more rigid forms of the past, many poets today use forms of their own making. There is one notable exception: the popularity of micropoetry has resulted in a renaissance of traditional Japanese poem forms such as the haiku, katauta, tanka, and sedoka. The rules of these forms make them a perfect fit for the contemporary micropoem.
We also consider the contemporary poet to be fearless! The contemporary poet is unafraid of political topics. Themes that are considered confrontational, such as sexual and physical violence, social justice, mental health, and suicide, are now commonly explored and discussed. Contemporary poets are still writing about the stars in the sky and the beating of the heart, but they are also writing about the ugly and the painful sides of life. Many poets leave a piece of themselves exposed in their poetry. Although traditional themes of nature, relationships, and romance are still common, contemporary poets have been able to use both the anonymity and the community of shared experiences found on the Internet to explore topics that were once off-limits. Poetry today is powerful and challenging. Globally shared connections have given poets a place to be vulnerable in their work. That has meant that more and more, poetry reflects multiple experiences, including those that are painful and dark.
There is no doubt that poetry is not only surviving in the age of social media, it is thriving. Contemporary poets just like you can find a place for your voice and experience in the many multifaceted digital poetry communities available online. Poetry continues to be an important form of modern expression, and just as it has throughout history, it will continue to be an influential part of the creative landscape.