Why is poetry dying
when we still have the gift?
If we still have water
then we still have a ship.
We can sail to the places
these words take us.
We are still shaken
by the words that make us.
Why should we let poetry die
when there is so much to explore?
If only people read it
and discovered more.

CrystalHope97

A dying art

Jun 5, 2026

June 2026

2026

Anger & Conflict - June 2026

Beauty & Aesthetics - June 2026

Dark & Scary - June 2026

Death & Mortality - June 2026

Drama & Tragedy - June 2026

Family & Relationships - June 2026

Fantasy & Magical - June 2026

Happiness & Joy - June 2026

Heartbreak & Loss - June 2026

Historical & Ancient - June 2026

Hope & Optimism - June 2026

Humor & Satire - June 2026

Inspiration & Motivation - June 2026

Love & Romance - June 2026

Mystery & Supernatural - June 2026

Nature & Environment - June 2026

Philosophical & Intellectual - June 2026

Political & Social - June 2026

Sadness & Melancholy - June 2026

Sexy & Sensual - June 2026

Time & Nostalgia - June 2026

Transformation & Change - June 2026

War & Heroism - June 2026

World & Travel - June 2026

removed.-j7sr

It's dying because the words no longer engage an audience that craves visual moving imagery and flash photography.
You want to to connect nowadays, you've got to shock your audience into submission with words that infect with imagery.

removed.-sjz7

A combination of factors contribute to it seeming so. The first is that there are other burgeoning art forms, the dominant one currently being film. The second is that poetry (in academic circles) has become too insulated and too much of it is mediocre, or worse. So academic reviewers are not objective: they give positive reviews for bad poetry in the hopes that their own work will get published, propagated, or considered for prizes. That perpetuates the cycle of poor work (which often wins prizes) and in which the wider audience has no interest. Much of what goes on in academic circles also goes on in non-academic circles: writers, instead of providing honest feedback, praise other poets' work in the hopes that their own may be praised. That of course strokes egos, but it doesn't do poetry any good. In my view poetry is arguably the highest art form because it does the most with the least. A truly great poem on a single page can be a compressed film or novel: it can incorporate beautiful verbal music, elements of fine painting, philosophy, mysticism, psychology, and so on. However, that being said, much of what passes for poetry doesn't deserve the name; precious little deserves to be remembered. It's not so much that poetry is a dying art; it would be more accurate to say that so much of it is forgettable. A great poet, truly such, is god-like, or a co-creator with God. And exceedingly rare. Moreover, while the art will last so long as there are great poets, it's not likely to become popular.

Ayesha

It&#8217;s not dying, it&#8217;s just evolving. At some point, we unconsciously realised cheesy small stanzas understood us better than long, complex sonnets, and it&#8217;s alright.

TemporalFugue

:)
Pearls afore swine
not noticed in time
poets poor when they die
a word and a line
rhythm and rhyme
it's not for today
that we
try..

Irieside

Poetry is a power. Once it is dialed in, and people recognize it for what it is, it will have new life.

weeping-willow

Wonderful write, we should never let Poetry die ;-]

dear-quokka

I don't think its dying.. I think evryone as favouties nd still somewhere craving for poems. Its just matter of number which absoulatly not matter.

removed.u685248

I know this is probsbly selfish, but I like reading other poets and them reading my scribbles, it feels like a higher, not scrutiny... but like the appreciation for the craft & time & inspiration all mixed up in the literary stew that is the poets' mind on poetry haha.

I go to a poetry open mic (or did before the pandemic, looking so forward to when they start up again), and while there's also lots of singer/songwriters and novelists reading parts of new chapters, so having an audience of artists, it is less intimidating in some ways, more in some other aspects.

Although to your point, there's an old fella who makes the trip from a senior's highrise to downtown, amd a pretty sketchy neighborhood. He's been rewriting the same novel, his only one, since *1962*,  and it's absolureky spellbinding and brilliant, and it is sad knowing it'll never he widely read, no matter how very good, perhaps no one will ever even read the entire thing. 

But then I think, if we write for even just an anticipation of applause, can it drown out the sound of our inner muse? This poem definitely got me thinking.

chuck-kean

That&#8217;s the problem, no one reads anymore, if it is because of lack of interest due to the generation of the video game haze or if it is simply the loss of time. People are kept so busy that they no longer have time for the escape. I write every day and I post my writing here as you do and even the artist here seem only interested in writing and not reading other artists works. It&#8217;s sad &#128546; I also believe that we are artists in our own right and please because I include myself in this category&#8212;Shakespeare set the bar so high that nothing can compare and that&#8217;s one reason I find myself keeping it simple plus I don&#8217;t necessarily have that skill to begin with. I also feel as if we lack interest and find it hard to write about love with his passion even if we feel that passion we find it hard to write about our joy. We find it much easier to write about our pain and with today&#8217;s world with so much pain, no one wants to read that. I don&#8217;t know maybe I am wrong and I really want to be wrong because I have a passion for writing and I keep it simple, no one needs a degree in philosophy or of any other kind to read what I write to decipher what was written. Keep at it and God Bless!!! P.S. Just write for yourself and the sake of writing and if just one reads what is written and received joy from it or something to think about or inspiration, I say to you Bravo and I salute you and applaud you.
I read this one and I appreciate your passion.

kenpepiton

Hello Poetry poems are all sharable, that puts more eyes on the things we imagine worth fitting in words to lines. Thousands read you. Keep writing.

mary-anne-norton

"We can sail to the places these 
Words takes
us. From poets on hp I have traveled with others.to the land of pain fantasy love war nature 
Nurture. 
Poetry is not dying. Perhaps it is hidden in the trash that 
becomes acceptable in the media..
This poem is proof that poetry
hasn't died. Thanks for sharing keep penning.

removed.-zr26

Agree with James Khan's comment and would add that we can sharpen our pens as a result of the competition. Quality is Quality and the written word will survive and thrive. Of course I am a born and reconfirmed optimist.

ryan-olearyuu

Poetry does not need to be written nor indeed read to experience.
The great bards of Ireland wrote nothing down but were capable
of reciting all of their works and people were enthralled by listening, because they had something to say. Nobody wants to waste time reading crap!!

templethoughts

meeeeeep so good! i adore the message in here.
I would say its dying due to our short attention spans. We have so many different forms of information and entertainment delivered to us as quick as we want it - all we have to do is unlock our smart phones, open an app, turn on the tv...I feel as if we literally can't focus to stop and dive into a poem or appreciate a piece of art as we're always moving onto the next thing that can catch our attention.

flatfielder

There is too much judgement in this world, rather than acceptance and tolerance .individual minds have been ambushed and  mind manipulators are using this.

trevor-m-landers

Is it really dying though? Where is the evidence for that?

Poetval

In the beginning of everything God said: "Let there be light." As you can see, in the very beginning of this planet there were words (And very beautiful words at that!). And those spoken words, proceeding from the Ancient of Days birthed life on this planet. 

The words of God Almighty are beautifully poetic. And they are full of power and life. And since mankind is made in His image, poetry will always be in our hearts.

GraceA

jamesb

SCHEDAR

luis-a-estable

Poetry is not dying and will never do so as long as there is a flower or female beauty. 
The poem in  a sort of way gives answer to its onw question. If we have water we will have the ship. In other words, if the poet write his good poetry some readers will be always there.
I like what you give voice to in this good poem.

sheila-sharpe

Poetry is not dying and your words prove it

KyleTao

Beautiful read. The kind that pumps life into poetry whenever it draws Its last breath.

Loretta

I think poetry should always live on in the hearts of those who know the true value of it. Thank you for bringing us the awareness Crystal.

kelsey-mcintyre

This was really great! Very thorough and beautifully written

thomas-w-case

Prospa_d_poetess48

benson

Very thoughtful - I wrote my first lines after thinking about it for a decade maybe just timing !

Lovely Crystal inspirational write
this is what we need moving
poetry&#9996;&#65039;&#9829;&#65039;:)))

hakikur-rahman

Shell

As long you write what you feel as beautiful as you did it will never die!

marty-2

Poetry is dying but poets arent. The problem is those that choode to read. I think people are slowly losong there ability to imagine. Such a shame because poetry is a window to the authors soul

JudyChan

Lovely poem.
Poetry dying, then time is up, as no beauty can be seen.
The world grows cold, as love is poetry in motion.
Keep writing, and further poetry's cause, well done, for you are a good and faith Stewart to carry on its cause.

joanne-maki

Beautiful verse. Words written down do not die. We need poetry now more than ever. It will survive.

1DNA

removed.-yl8g

emmackenzie

gape

I believe poetry is still alive! But good poetry gets hidden by reams of ramblings that try to resemble it. It's like trying to find one diamond in a bushel of rhinestones; people give up after seeing so much that isn't the real thing. But poetry really is out there. Or in there.  In the hearts of people who care enough to keep striving to birth great literature.

calebajohnson

How can it live
When we do not stop
With a moment to give
A single drop
Of what we have
To anything 
But what will give us more power
To have?

I love it!

Candyce

anne-curtin

These are all such important questions & they deserve answers.

lashwrites

frances-e-mcclelland

Succinct and meaningful. A really inspiring write !

eleanor-prince

Indeed! It can be the wings to another way of being, of thinking, feeling, experiencing. Long live good poetry.

cesar-botetano

Poetry is inside you
it would live as long as you do
no matter this world is falling apart
your poetic message is important

See how this works? If you write anything vaguely nieve about the subject of poetry all of these self-important mofuggers come out of the woodwork to give you their two cents they're so goddamn proud to've earned. Poetry isn't dead so much as it's cursed - plagued by a bunch of amatuers who have nothing better to do than pat each other on the back for pandering to each other. Don't get me wrong, I'm aware of how hypocritical I'm being just by even commenting on this piece of work, but I'm only doing so to illustrate how powerful this curse is. I've been here too long, there's no hope for me. My advice to you: get out while you still can!

Belles_t

The passion we experience for poetry has such a will to it. This is a didactic piece of writing.  Thank u for your mind

sweetrain

Poetry will never die because emotions never will, but it is becoming less and less cool all the time. "Poetry" has been redefined to mean (quoting more or less directly from my literature teacher) "any different thing for different people": prose now passes for poetry, and generally the worse it is, the more praise it gets. 
Poetry is an abstract art that is purely about emotions and not about the circumstances, but "free verse" is usually all about the circumstances, often the race or gender of the "poet". I find that sometimes poets learn lessons that those of the other gender or another race often don't have the chance to, and they can draw on those lessons to enrich their poetry, but good poems and in fact true poems at all are never about being a certain gender or race (or any other way to put people in categories): they're about being alive. This is why they resonate powerfully with everyone, even more so than prose. And yet the power of "poems" today are generally judged by their level of... EXCLUSIVENESS.
Not to mention the way our culture praises bad writing because good writing is a sign of God forbid both having a talent in an academic-related area and devoting yourself to practice it, which makes you a nerd.
But the core of this, I think, is our societal denial of emotions. Life, they claim, is all about circumstance and not about emotional and spiritual development. This is why the rejection of poetry.

daltonite

You yourself are proof positive that poetry is ALIVE & WELL!!! Props

cj-sutherland

no it isn't. as long as  people exist poetry will be a form of expression. Look at the 100 greatest poets. Understand their words I BET you change your mind

aditya-singh-1

Though there are woods and oceans to sail, 
There are a very few Craftsmen left to make the ship
Poetry is an art which demands time to be appreciated
And in today's world of fast and pace there's no time left in anyone's pocket
Poetry though helps us live..
But the question is do we all live or just breathe?

92af11

UtopianMystique_51

dan-pereze4

maybe if it could be turned into an emoji ;)

VladislavMartynovitch

Eternity can't die - but all the mortal Hearts
Are envious today, and they proclaimed her "Finite":
Pretenders lazy are - they write like playing cards,
But Poetry is Work before which they're so timid...

LoriJonesMcCaffery

This brought to my mind this:  Kale is very good for you, but how many people like it.  Is poetry like kale?  I hope not.

monobina-nath

removed.-fvq1

MadBunnyScientist

Rob-bigfoot

Sciatica is the curse of my poetry! I will have to find a way of writing on the ceiling! Good write.

removed.-x5zk

It is the vanity writers and vanity publication that has murdered poetry. Any fool can join a poetry site. However, sites Online that are free to post invite real bad poetry. The art Of poetry was lost when people believed what they were told by vanity book publishers. All the fake contests. People need to be told their work sucks if it does. If you are a poet. Your work will be published by real publishers- ETC.

the-original-tom-maxwell

I agree, poets use to be wo people looked up to for knowledge, ideas, great thinkers , thinking is a lost art how many times you hear I'll think about it, compared to google it ! good poem

Beautiful as it is wrong and right. Left outside to discolor and disintegrate, many do not care for this form of art that we all have came to love. Some find it a bore, maybe a waste of time, but I don't mind. Why? Because they will find it on their own. We aren't lost- nor are we dying, not yet. As words are written, they are immortalized; here to stay for eternity. We are evolving into a new world, a new society, with new minds and new people.

anonymousthinker

When there are so many distractions of daily life, instead of relaxing and soothing your heart, feeling emotions you never have felt, thinking of what can and can't be, some people are distracted just like that because apparently the notification they have is the most important thing at that time. When people can't process what they read because they can't see or hear it, they turn to things they can see or hear. They may think, poetry is boring, I'm going to watch a music video/YouTube video/call someone/text them back/, something visual, made to befuddle the mind for the creators own benefit of money and fame. But in poetry, we do not want fame, we want feeling, friends, to inspire and release everything we have been processing in our MIND. The only place where we are truly safe, and constantly thinking. Every mind is different, and that is why the human brain is so amazing. The human mind as some might think COULD be used to survive on it's own and judge it's survival conditions for critical decisions, OR, rather it can be used to work together. Why are two minds better than one? Why are both understandings of the argument better than one. Knowledge is meant to be artistically shared, to be expressed in it's own special way, for the wellbeing of humanity, not for money or fame. How many pre-modern artists have lived in poverty instead of riches. It is not a sin to NEED money but to have GREED for money. GREED destroys the purpose of art, GREED is what causes the greatest of empires to crumble, GREED is what is destroying the natural earth, GREED is the reason we betray our loved ones. Poetry is an amazing form of art, but sadly is unappreciated by some people now. We must spread poetry through the corners of the earth, and open up the eyes of people that have been squinting at their screens for far too long. I know I may sound like a hypocrite, I am using a screen too, but to spread knowledge and be inspired (as well as continue with my education). Thank you for reading this and I hope you were inspired.