Poetry was originally an oral art. Poetry was passed on through songs and spoken words. Poetry recited history and stories of gods at social gatherings and festivals. Poems were long and rhythmic tales that lived on through generations of repetition. Poets stopped using oral poetry and began pursuing written poetry so they could appeal more to the eye than to the ear. The earliest forms of written poetry are said to have originated in Africa. Throughout time, poetry was put on paper, then in books, then on blogs. However, oral poetry is still alive today through performance poetry like slam poetry.
Though not much can be said about how people viewed poetry a long time ago, a lot can be said about how poetry is viewed today. People see poetry as a way of conveying emotions and connecting with strangers. There is even research that shows that people who read poetry have more engaging social lives than people who do not. Many believe that we would have a better society if people read poetry more often.
Poetry has had many influences. One of the first named poets was a Mesopotamian known as Enheduanna. Though not much is known about her, we do know that she would write poems and edit hymnals. Unfortunately, the first known poems were anonymous. These poems include Rig Vedas of Hinduism, Song of the Weaver, and Epic of Gilgamesh. Some early influencers of poetry were Homer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Emily Dickinson. Homer wrote the famous epics, “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey,” which were part of the foundations of Greek literature. Ralph Waldo Emerson is known for being an incredible essayist with one of his most well-known essays being “Self-Reliance.” Emily Dickinson became famous years after her death because her sister began publishing her poems. One of the most well-known and most influential poets of all time was Shakespeare. Shakespeare influenced poetry through his most famous works like “Hamlet,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Many of his works are still being performed and studied today.
Now, in the age of contemporary poetry, poetry has become more accessible. Not just because of the invention of the printing press but also because poems can now be posted online. Poetry being posted on blogs and websites can help contemporary poets gain more attention than through publishing books. Poetry has also been used to reflect people’s cultures and experiences. For example, “Telephone Conversation” by the Nigerian poet, Wole Soyinka, is a humorous take on a significant issue in which Soyinka describes himself as “brunette” in the face but the soles of his feet and palms of his hands are “peroxide blond.” Another great poet, Okot P’Bitek, wrote “Song of Lawino” which is regarded as one of the best modern epic poems. The poem goes over how Western culture has affected African culture. Another popular modern poet is Shonto Begay who has written many works on the culture and struggles of Native Americans. Many of the poet Rupi Kaur’s critically acclaimed collections reflect trauma, healing, femininity, and so much more that is going on in the modern world. Since the beginning of poetry, it has never ceased to express and reflect on the struggles of the world and its people.
Though poetry has gone through many struggles with people sacrificing authenticity and honesty for the possibility of becoming a famous poet or only become famous after their death, poetry is going strong and is even being encouraged in academic environments. Poetry is not just seen as something corny or romantic but also like painting with words.
Bibliography
Raab, Diana. “How Poetry Changed since the Time We Went to School.” Sixty and Me, 5 Apr. 2022, https://sixtyandme.com/how-poetry-changed-since-the-time-we-went-to-school/. Accessed 22 May 2024.
Atwell, Margot. “Poetry, in the Wilds of the Internet.” Kickstarter Magazine, 2 May 2016, https://medium.com/kickstarter/why-poetry-is-thriving-online-cb190cad5e2a. Accessed 22 May 2024.
National Museum of the American Indian. “Native Knowledge 360°—Celebrating Native Cultures through Words: Storytelling and Oral Traditions.” Americanindian.si.edu, https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/storytelling-and-oral-traditions. Accessed 22 May 2024.
“10 Famous Poets Who Left an Indelible Mark on Literature.” Biography, 26 Sept. 2023, www.biography.com/authors-writers/g45226269/famous-poets. Accessed 22 May 2024.
Foundation, Poetry. “WHO CARES about POETRY? 90 PERCENT of AMERICAN READERS, NEW STUDY SHOWS.” Poetry Foundation, 28 Sept. 2021, www.poetryfoundation.org/foundation/press/71608/who-cares-about-poetry-90-percent-of-american-readers-new-study-shows. Accessed 22 May 2024.
Ingrid. “Poetics: Oral Poetry.” DVerse, 31 Aug. 2021, https://dversepoets.com/2021/08/31/poetics-oral-poetry/. Accessed 22 May 2024.
286135448514984. The Evolution of Poetry – from Oral to Visual. 25 Aug. 2022, https://penwings.com/the-evolution-of-poetry-from-oral-to-visual/. Accessed 22 May 2024.
Reflection (3/24/25)
Initially, I had known that poetry was an oral art before its transition was made. I knew a lot about poetry before I wrote this essay. It was still fun to learn more and to even find poems such as Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka. I also learned more about the poet Rupi Kaur through my research for this essay and I am really liking her work!
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