Political Poetry:
Occupying a space of unregulated voice,
asking permission from no one-
‘A lot of political poetry says: ‘This is my truth, I’m not going to wait for anybody to allow me to speak my truth. This is what I need to say — I’m going to say it.’
A poem is an utterly free space for language-
an expression of freedom,
a form of resistance,
having been used as such [resistance] for decades.
By protesting the status quo and undermining established values and ideals so as to prompt resistance and change, the idea of poetry being political is widespread.
But, what exactly does this- ‘political poetry’- actually mean?…
First, let’s consider what ‘politics’ mean…
‘The activities of the people who try to influence the way a country is governed’/
‘Political poetry’ then, is poetry that is related to social justice,
(or rather, social injustice)…
Through the written word, we are able to evoke our, sometimes subconscious, feelings of social injustice, as we demonstrate our shared humanity,
the collective experience of what it means to be alive in all its glory
(and gory),
proving that we are not alone in our experiences,
as we communicate pain
and struggle
and, perhaps most importantly, truth.
‘Writing a poem without getting political, to me, sounds like I have to build a car and not make it a vehicle, it doesn’t make much sense, because all art is political. The decision to create, the artistic choice to have a voice, the choice to be heard is the most political act of all.’
‘Attempting to write the tears of the world into poems, poems that speak of injustice, oppression and tragedy.’
Truth speaking
and consciousness raising,
with the ability to expose the deepest and most inaccessible realities of the individual human experience,
a poet’s job is to look closely,
and to keep looking closely,
bringing news of that looking to the page and to readers.
‘I am one person in one body trying, daily, to negotiate the constructions of culture, race, time, hierarchies, lineage, form, privilege, prejudice, family structure, mental health, and personal value. Frankly, I find the simple act of waking up in the morning and praying to be a political act of personal rebellion.’
Poetry is hope. Poetry is proof we sing on.
People turn to poetry in times of crisis as, like all art, it provides us with ways to connect to each other and to figure out what the hell is going on/
to find
(or make)
meaning…
‘Politicians deal with issues; poets deal with epiphanies.’
And so, notebook and pen in hand,
we sing
(well, write)
on.
❤
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