I have always been a fan of poetry. I started writing poems when I was little, not long after we moved to Indiana and got settled in to a house outside of Albany, so I was 6 or 7. I wrote poetry off and on pretty much ever since. I rarely showed my work to people though because I always felt like my stuff was unfinished and could be improved and I didn’t want to show it to anyone unless I felt it was the best that it could be, but I undoubtedly always had a knack for writing and a love and appreciation for the art of it.
However poetry is not as popular as it once was, or at least it doesn’t seem like it is. The only poetry I ever see these days exists in the form of song lyrics, and even in that the quality of poetry in lyrics seems to be dwindling, especially in mainstream music. The lyrics of most popular songs these days rivals the quality of stuff I wrote when I was 10, so what does that tell you?
I don’t know, maybe I am just not looking in the right places. Maybe there is still a community of poetry fans out there. If so, where are they?
Do you enjoy reading or writing poetry? Do you think poetry is dead?
No! Poetry is very much Alive.
—- it shall live FOREVER & ever & ever…….
I’d have to guess that you’re not looking in the right places. I’m not terribly into poetry — I like it well enough, but it’s far from my writing passions — and I’m aware of a number of active poetry resources (youth written poetry, youth slam poetry, adult performance poetry, adult written poetry, poetry workshops for all ages) in my local community.
Also, for whatever it’s worth, “song lyrics” can mean very different things depending on whether one is talking about a mainstream commercial artist versus a more independent performer.
“SPITTING IS THE NEW POETRY”
Ashley:
Poetry is never dead because poetry is alive, but in different forms. Look for spoken word pieces or better yet, go on youtube and search:
“Brave New Voices”
“Def Poetry Jam”
Also, wonderful rap is poetry. Different forms, but poetry is still – well alive. (: