Anyone who is close enough to me knows how much I admire words and writing. Whether that be searching through books, writing essays or reading articles about topics that interest me, I am always looking for ways to grow and learn.
One thing I am passionate about is poetry. I love to read, write and share it with those around me. However, through sharing pieces I have written, there is one common theme I have noticed: Most people don’t like poetry.
Now, this isn’t to say no one likes poetry. Obviously, somebody has to like it, or it wouldn’t still exist. However, this theme of dislike around poetry ties into the current literary crisis in America.
According to a 2024 study by the National Literacy Institute, 21% of adults in America are illiterate. For comparison, in 1979, that number was 0.4%.
If this number scares you, then good. It scares me. As a writer of not only articles but also poetry, I write in fear at times. The love of literature is dying, and with it, the art of writing.
The literary crisis stems from a lack of interest in reading for fun, leading to people being disinterested in reading poetry and books all together. You might remember falling asleep in English class when your teacher made you read a poem you couldn’t interpret. That may have tainted your view of poetry. Truthfully, the real reasons lie a little deeper.
One reason people typically dislike poetry is that it intimidates them. While it may be hard to imagine why people feel this way, the truth is that words should intimidate you.
Words are the most powerful weapons a human can use. They can be used for good and for bad. Not only that, but writers have the power to create entire universes with simply a pen and paper — or, in modern times, a laptop.
So, yes, it sounds silly to say poetry is intimidating, but it is. I like to view poetry as a puzzle. The words may not always blend cohesively, and it may take a bit longer to piece together. But when that final puzzle piece clicks into place and everything starts to make sense, that is when the true power of poetry is revealed to readers.
People also dislike poetry simply because it doesn’t make sense to them. That is the beauty of poetry. The meaning may not click the first time you read a poem, but the more you practice and train your brain to want to put those puzzle pieces together, the more you will find yourself enjoying and valuing good writing.
That lack of understanding can stem from the inability to concentrate on a piece of writing. With technology such as phones, TVs and computers, we are so used to instant gratification at the click of a button. When someone is asked to read something, they lose interest far too quickly if it takes longer than expected. This lack of concentration due to increasing use of technology can also link back to the causes of the literary crisis.
The most important reason as to why you should care about writing and poetry is that it can connect us to our deepest emotions. Sometimes these may be suppressed feelings about past experiences, traumas we have left buried and unaddressed or our most vulnerable experiences that we are scared to face.
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It may be scary to come face-to-face with those insecurities and emotions, but how are we supposed to grow and learn if we do not assess and move past these experiences?
So I challenge you: Move past those sleepy memories from your high school English class. Find something that interests you. There are so many options; it doesn’t have to be poetry to start.
Find something you care about. Read about it. Think about it. When you’re ready, find a poem about a topic that impacts you, read it once, then again and again. Read it until you have your own unique understanding.
Your experience with a poem or story may not be someone else’s. The important part is that you are feeding and nurturing your brain with words rather than pixels on a screen.
Isabella Seger is a first-year student studying interactive media and design as well as graphic and experience design with a minor in digital marketing. She currently serves as her residence hall’s Community Leadership Team president and is an active member of Miami’s Residence Hall Association.