Poetry stands strong as a global form of expression for all genders, classes and ethnicities. No matter the audience, a poem exists for all. However, poetry runs substantially deeper than typically perceived. The first poem dates back to the 12th century B.C.E. in Mesopotamia, titled “The Epic Of Gilgamesh.” Poetry slowly expanded from Africa and dispersed globally, continuing to change over the next two thousand years, resulting in modern-day iterations. Poetry began as a way to remember and record lists and events, later evolving into a form of expression with especially strong ties in religions such as Islam and Christianity. Now used as a form of communication and creative expression, poetry remains globally appreciated by people of all backgrounds.
“My mother read me poems starting when I was 3. When I was 6, I started trying to write them. I have always read poetry every day of the week. The experience of having someone else understand what you mean was deeply satisfying to a child. It is great that poetry employs many, many shapes, sizes and styles because one is able to explore at different times and figure out what works best,” poet Naomi Shihab-Nye said.
The beginnings of poetry trace back to Africa and Southeast Asia, with early documentation of poetry showing its record-keeping properties by using rhymes to remember instructions or locations. However, poetry originated before written language and as such, the true volume of poetry produced before written translation remains a mystery. The oldest form of poetry, named an Epic, finds its roots in Mesopotamia, Greece and India. This form of poetry follows the story of a hero and his or her troubles while attempting to reach a goal. Epics started as a way to pass on traditions and culture to future generations, and also celebrated the accomplishments of grand heroes in order to boast a culture’s impressive accomplishments. Using a simple and repetitive system to remember poems and share them orally before the development of a written language became essential to the preservation of poems. Eventually, once writing developed and animistic religions began declining, poetry became readily available and shifted once again.
A variety of famous poems and poets derive inspiration from religion, typically one of the three major monotheistic religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. With poems regarding Islamic ideals dating back to the 14th century, when Sufi mystics such as Jalal al-Din Rumi wrote and spread poetry as a form of conversion, poetry helped spread the ideas of Islam and gain traction for the faith. Eventually, poetry dispersed outwards from hearths such as Dar Al-Islam and Central Europe to areas all around the world. In other parts of the globe during the same period, Asian poetry relied heavily on religions like Buddhism and Confucianism. Monks began writing about Buddha and the faith as a whole, appealing greatly to lower-class citizens in China and cementing poetry as a staple practice among peasants. Meanwhile, Confucian government officials used poetry to create merit tests and increase their hold on the hierarchy.
“Religion is probably not as influential as it once was, but there are certainly still poets who write out of religion. There is a new anthology, for instance, of contemporary Catholic poets just out edited by April Lindner and Ryan Wilson. I think of poets like Christian Wiman, who write about poetry and their faith. Other poets, such as Wendell Berry, seem deeply rooted in faith and religion (the Sabbath Poems) while writing about the natural world. Mark Jarman is another poet who wrestles with faith in his works. Poetry, even when not obviously religious, often deals with religious themes: the sublime, the soul, the meaning of life, the meaning of mortality, love and our place in the texture of things. And let’s not leave out Biblical themes. Even non-religious poets like to take on subjects like, say, Lot’s Wife, or Adam and Eve naming the animals,” Professor of Poetry at Oxford University, Dr. Alicia Stallings said.
As far as the various styles of poetry, each one stems from a unique hearth. For example, the poetry found in ancient Greece and the Roman Empire did not contain a rhyme scheme. Around the 10th century BCE, the first poem using real rhyme schemes arose: the Chinese poet Shi Jing in the Qin dynasty adopted a rigid rhyme scheme, and separately, in the Muslim state of Spain known as Al-Andalus, rhyme also emerged. As time progressed, trade technologies improved and global communication grew, which ultimately increased the availability of poetry around the world.
In Europe, specifically during the Middle Ages, massive amounts of religious poetry arose. Due to the hold of the Catholic church over a vast majority of European peasants, religion was deeply intertwined with everyday life. This resulted in an overwhelming volume of poetry regarding religion and ultimately influenced the modern-day formats by providing rich thematic material and intricate philosophy to explore. Eventually, during the Renaissance, as the arts flourished, poetry did as well. During the art revolution that occurred in the 14th to 17th centuries, brand new forms of poetry took root and were eventually distributed as ideas among poets across Europe. The first records of rhyme in Europe date back to the High Middle Ages and are rooted in Arabic poetry inspired by Spain, however, the Renaissance stole the spotlight as free verse entered the field.
Later on, in the late 19th century, free verse arrived, originating in France and eventually traveling beyond. Poets desired an increasingly liberal way to write without adhering to a strict rhyme scheme. After the development of the new format, a variety of poets adopted the style as it gained traction for its novelty. Especially as the world modernized, writers wanted to capture the ebbs and flows of regular speech to keep up with the ever-changing field.
Nowadays, with the development of the internet and globalization, the poetry genre finds itself extremely oversaturated. With modern poetry often relying on free verse rather than rhyme and a variety of topics to cover, current poetry remains in decline. As mass publication developed and books became readily available, the ideas and themes of poetry began to blur together. With the ability to publish on such a variety of platforms for anyone to see, the influx of communication reduced the effect of outstanding poems.
Along with the easily available nature of poems in the current day, a serious decline in media literacy among newer generations contributes to the ever-growing diminuendo in the popularity of poetry. As social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, and global news networks gain traction and become easily attainable, the ability to understand complex themes in literature is considerably reduced. Due to the nature of knowledge through Google and other search engines, complexity drastically declines as people desire short, concise explanations rather than in-depth analysis; because of the nuanced nature of poetry, simple explanations do not allow for a thorough appreciation of the art. In modern years, this lack of desire to grasp the deep content of poetry ultimately contributes to the rise of Word document poets, as coined by social media. In other words, people typically prefer shorter and simpler poems as opposed to the long classics of the 17th-century poet William Shakespeare or the 20th-century poet Robert Frost.
While the quality and appreciation of poetry overall continues to diminish, its purpose shifts and provides a new group of people with solace. The rising global tension and intense topics now hitting news platforms alter the themes of poetry. Historically, poets expressed themselves and commented on their environments through their writing. Now, as political and economic tensions rise around the world, poetry surges in popularity among young adults. Namely, during COVID-19, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) created a collection containing dozens of poems from people around the world. Each poem in the collection highlights the value of poetry and how it acts as a safe space.
“My love of poetry started with a little game when I was in 4th or 5th grade. Since then, I feel like poetry has helped me express myself, and it is a good way to cope with stress… [Rhyme] helps poems flow, especially when you use metaphors; it really adds to the quality of poetry. Ultimately, poetry has done a lot for me as a student and a creative; it really helped me work through some tough stuff,” junior Jessica Johnson said.
Every citizen stands to gain from poetry, especially those who face consistent stress and adversity, such as students. So, while the art continues declining, the responsibility to reclaim and revitalize it falls on high schoolers. With a variety of poetry competitions for high schoolers, a plethora of opportunities for young adults open up. At NC, especially, the Poetry Club strives to keep the art alive through student participation and engaging after-school activities. Even though poetry began as a way to keep records, eventually, the art transitioned into a creative outlet and platform for people to speak up and speak out.
