The unique power of poetry to incite change is something we often neglect, but one that we need in today’s reality.
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood
Brian Clements, author of Anthology of Short Stories and Poems II, knows how valuable poetry is. He shows us how powerful and helpful they can be in the literary pieces of poetry and love story on Brian’s book. It’s time we stop putting poetry aside and allow it to inspire change in ourselves.
So how is poetry utilized? How are they used as markers of change? And how can they become a tool for people to look forward to the future?
How Poetry is Utilized in Different Cultures and Manners
Poetry is employed in a variety of ways across cultures. Lyric poetry communicates the intimate and emotional, whereas haikus contrast images of the commonplace. Poets themselves take on a variety of forms, too.
Take, for example, the Romantic poet using sublime messages to hide meaning in their poems. Or the soldier fighting in the frontline. You also have the spoken word performer, the bard, and the artist working in their studio, taking on the form of their art.
Why is Poetry Necessary?
The necessity for pupils to “find their voice” is a common theme in creative writing programs. According to teachers, the finest poems they’ve read are composed in the authors’ unique voices rather than in some pre-existing “poetic” register. This is so because poetry is about relevance for both the author and the reader.
Whether you read poetry frequently or not, it is still relevant today. However, you’ll likely turn to poetry at a certain point in your life. Poems are most commonly read by people when things are changing.
Birthdays, weddings, funerals, and other occasions can be joyful or sorrowful. Poetry can offer a straightforward way to communicate emotion during difficult or overwhelming times.
The Power of Poetry to Incite Change and Be a Marker of Change
Periods of change, frequently commemorated through public events, are also marked through poetry. Poetry reading and writing can become a transforming experience in these situations. For instance, on Remembrance Sunday, poetry is used to both remember those who have served in the military and to reflect on and process the painful realities of loss.
In the literary pieces of poetry and love story on Brian’s book, the author has many poems sharing his experience of change. Tony Walsh’s “This is the Place” gave the community a unified, defiant, and uplifting voice following the tragic Manchester Arena bombing. And what made the poem more relatable was that Walsh himself was a Mancunian.
Poets including Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, and Anne Sexton are the early confessional poets that expressed personal experiences in poetry using straightforward and immediate language to the forefront. Although it was once shocking, their poems’ use of the private and individual as a starting point has become ingrained in contemporary poetry.
Now, this is not to say, however, that poetry can only express immediate experiences. Some poems serve as forums for exploring significant issues and looking for solutions, as proven by Langston Hughes’ poem, “I Look at the World.” Here’s a short excerpt of the piece:
I look then at the silly walls
Through dark eyes in a dark face—
And this is what I know:
That all these walls oppression builds
Will have to go!
Poetry as a Means to Look Forward to the Future
Poetry additionally investigates the possibility of future change, bearing the poet’s anxieties or hopes. Consider the poem “Interim” by Lola Ridge, which is especially timely. Ridge was a well-known activist who supported the lower classes.
In “Interim,” nothing has changed yet. We come across the period leading up to a shift, the preparation for change, and the stop to reflect, plan, and prepare for what comes next. She foresees a future action or event in it.
The concept of the sleeping world is potent. Before going somewhere else, the world awaits for its people to get their act together or be better.
Let Us Utilize the Power of Poetry
Poetry has never been more readily available than it is today. There is no doubting the power of poetry to incite change. Poetry’s continual relevance and impact always shine, whether you read it frequently or only when things change in your life.
Start inviting poetry to your life with literary pieces of poetry and love story on Brian’s book, which you can get by visiting his website. Click here to be directed to Brian Clement’s webpage and get a copy of his book!
Alex Writes 