The Importance of Poetry

Story by: Allie Rezek

Poetry is more than just words on a page that have a peculiar rhythm. Poetry, writing in general, has always been a way to lay yourself bare even if it seemed scary. Being vulnerable is a powerful thing one can do as words hold power over the mind and body, putting all kinds of people in each other’s shoes to keep in mind someone else’s point of view.

It builds communities, it connects communities , it shows everyone, of all different backgrounds that at the end of the day, we are all humans with real feelings and more similarities with one another than we choose to acknowledge.

Salaam Green, the Poet Laureate of Birmingham, Alabama, found her passion for writing as a child.

“I wanted to put words to my imagination,” she said. “Later in life, I kept the writing life and career because writing helps me to explain my thoughts and express how I feel and see the world and humanity around me.”

Poetry is a form of storytelling. Poets use this form of writing to express their real and raw selves, practicing vulnerability for all to read. Writing in such a way is not an easy thing to do as Green explains she is an introvert. However, this art form became a way she felt comfortable sharing the depth of all she has to say.

“I believe writing found me as a way to bring my voice into light” she shared. “I don’t think I really understood the power of my voice until I started writing and reciting poetry.”

Finding your authentic voice through poetry is a common experience many writers have. To write well, you often have to allow yourself to feel every emotion that is relevant to the piece. You have to search inside yourself to seek what you want your message to be and how you want it to be perceived. And what is so beautiful about that is the fact that all art is subjective.

The creator can work their hardest to try to dictate how the reader will feel, but everyone is different and everyone will experience different reactions to the piece.

“Poetry is dynamic and by using various forms in poetic structure poets can create space for readers to explore their emotions and have experiences that they may not have imagined in any other form,” Green said.

Emotions are powerful, and although they can be guided, they can’t be chosen for the reader. Green understands that the poet’s job is to create an open space for people to feel what comes naturally to them.

Green has recently channeled her passion into a new poetry collection titled, “ The Other Revival, Poems and Reckonings,” which releases June 17, from all book sellers at salaamgreen.com. She interviewed both descendants of enslaved people and slave owners, offering a perspective into generational memory.

“Poetry has always played a role in social change and activism,” Green shared. “Poetry challenges the power structures through poetry’s ability to construct narratives that represent and reflect on real and imagined worlds.”

When asked how she hoped her work would contribute to real world conversations, Green said, “I hope my work supports underrepresented people feel seen and known. Everyone has a voice therefore it’s not my work to give voice to anyone however, I hope my voice reminds others of the value of their words and life.”

She believes that poetry as a whole challenges the status quo, creating resistance while also building relationships with others and a closer one to herself.

“I think everyone should read poetry,” she said, “but especially everyone should find poets and poetry that speaks of timber worlds and a world they dream of and hope for.”

Poetry has always meant more than the recognition it gets today. Poets reveal the most vulnerable sides of them in hopes that someone who takes the time to read their work won’t feel alone.

A poet’s job is to help people feel seen, help people to come to understand the importance of their voice, and most importantly, a poet’s job is to find a way to express their true selves by creating a powerful narrative.