Ancient Civilizations
Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of early poetry singing and chanting during the reign of Sumerians and Babylonians in Mesopotamia. Ancient Sumerian tablet texts reveal that their civilization developed recited poetry to chart events, battles and divine worship. Babylonians continued the practice with the Epic of Gilgamesh, a critically acclaimed work that is detailed in actual archaeological texts.
Experts believe early Mesopotamian lyrics used repetition and metaphors to tell stories and entertain. Rhythms conveyed a heightened experience and surprise, an attention grabbing method that still works today. These ancient poetic forms served as a kind of religious expression as well.
Free Verse
In 650 BC, Greek lyric poetry started to emerge with mid-length poetry known as Homeric Hymns. These were songs and hymns sung to celebrate a God or Goddess, or tell a story or mythology of battle or a voyage.
The ancient Greek poets Theognis and Solon wrote [Elegiac] poetry in which they addressed themes of moral decision-making, resistance to tyranny and confusion about relationships. Slavery was still in action and this profoundly impacted their writings.
As time went on, there was a growing awareness of the novel, non-standard forms, with each poem having a uniquely hewn style. This was the beginning of the Free Verse, in which poets could express their art without having to conform to expectation.
By the turn of the 20th century, the American poets Walt Whitman, Hart Crane and T.S.Eliot were considered founding fathers of the Free Verse style, freeing the poet from traditional forms and allowing for a much wider landscape for expression.
Modern Poetry
The 1960s saw the emergence of Beatnik and post-modernist poetry, the likes of which were undeniably bold, innovative and free-thinking. Poetry that hummed with a type of discordant logic. Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs were highly influential Beats that broke rules, smashed precedents and introduced us to a more chaotic arrangement of words.
Today, the poets we turn to explore wider reaching topics, with poets such as Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde and Maya Angelou using their works to debate racism and sexism, as well as poverty, injustice and a number of other social issues. There is also a new level of interest and engagement in spoken word and poetry slam performances, which are regularly performed in theatres, bars and cafes.
Metaphysical Poetry
Metaphysical poetry, which emerged in the late 16th century, is typified by catchy, witty and cryptic verse. This is particularly credited to John Donne, whose poems often had a subversive streak. He was one of the first poets to bring together the metaphysical and the physical, using vivid imagery and clever, tongue-in-cheek comparisons. His works also explored appealing irony and paradox, which he used to challenge the traditional framework of his time.
The works of other metaphysical poets such as George Herbert and Andrew Marvell resonated with readers because of their keen observations and lively images. Metaphysical poets were not only writing great poetry but also openly tackled modernism and questioned traditional religious customs.
Romantic Poetry
Romantic poetry, which first appeared in the 18th century, was a protest movement that was often an answer to the depression caused by life’s complexities. Romantics protested modernism, reason and logic in favour of feelings, emotion and imagination.
In a world where people were being affected by industrialization, political strife and the excess of the Age of Enlightenment, Romanticism saw no sign of the promised liberation. Poets such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Coleridge and Lord Byron used their writing to express their despondency, yearning, love and grief.
These writers had a profound impact on our society because they raised the foreboding concern that now we knew what our world was capable of becoming, but could not stop its progress. They preached our inherent humanity and connection to the Earth as a way to create a better future.
Conclusion
From the dawn of civilization, poetry has been found in various civilizations throughout history. It started out as a way to express religious sentiment and chronicle history, but has evolved over time to encompass personal feelings, nuanced observations, life’s chaos and social issues.
Now, we know that poets are making a real difference by expressing greater consciousness and challenging deeply entrenched ideas. Poetry remains an essential source of creativity and human expression, inspiring emotion and thoughtfulness in those who experience it. It has become so powerful that it can bridge the gap between us, building a sense of understanding and empathy.
