The child of social media - ‘Spoken word’ poetry

 The child of social media - ‘Spoken word’ poetry

There have been reasonable apprehensions about the poetry on social media and whether the reader finds the richness of classical poems or the layers and subtlety of modern poems in these. On the other hand, the judgmental approach and aversion to the poems on social media are blind in the sense, there are poets shaping a whole new genre ‘the spoken word’ poetry.

Sarah Crown gives us an elaborate and in-depth analysis of the contribution of the contemporary poets who have excelled in this genre. (Link-https://www.theguardian.com/.../hollie-mcnish-politics-of...)

She has made a right choice in McNish to highlight the expanse and scope the genre ‘spoken poetry’ offers to poets. I read some of McNish’s works and this is the link for McNish’s poem ‘Fine’-https://i.pinimg.com/.../552e50b189a624ef8e5b6a3df50411fa.... The poem gives the reader in simple words a disturbing poem on loneliness of individuals and emptiness in relationships when there is lavish abundance to connect in the modern world.

Alice O’Keefee’s interview of McNish gives us a clearer idea of how the new genre is certainly a leap forward in contemporary literature. To quote Alice “The appeal of McNish’s writing lies precisely in her willingness to let it all hang out. She tackles big topics – the politics of breastfeeding and the family, gender discrimination, sex and birth – humorously and with a total lack of pretension. Her voice is warm and instantly likeable, the experience of reading her poetry often compared to having a conversation with a friend.” This is the link for the whole interview and writeup-https://www.theguardian.com/.../hollie-mcnish-politics-of....

Poets and poetry make the difference when their few words convey what it takes hundreds of pages in a fiction. Out of the ‘Spoken words’ poems whichever pulsate with poetic visualization and disturbing content, would certainly stand the test of time.