Image features two poetry book covers, 'chasers of the light' by Tyler Knott Gregson and 'milk and honey' by Rupi Kaur, with text overlay discussing the rise of social media poetry.

Happy Friday, everyone 💖 I am back today with another Let’s Talk Bookish discussion post!

This week’s topic is all about poetry, specifically “instapoetry.” I had a lot of fun thinking this one through. I’m always really interested in anything that makes reading feel more accessible, especially for people who might not see themselves as “readers.” Even though I’m not the biggest poetry fan, I can still appreciate how easily it connects with people.

Graphic promoting a book discussion titled 'Let's Talk Bookish', featuring floral illustrations and a pink background with geometric patterns. It mentions creators and hosts Rukky, Aria, and Dini.

Let’s Talk Bookish is a bookish meme where, each Friday, bloggers write posts discussing the topic of the week. It is currently by Aria @ Book Nook Bits and Dini @ DiniPandaReads.

Prompt: A few years ago, poetry saw a surge of popularity on social media thanks to “Instagram Poetry” or “instapoetry” by authors like Rupi Kaur, Amanda Lovelace, and Atticus. Do you think social media platforms have changed how people discover poetry? Do you think “instapoetry” makes poetry seem more approachable, or do you agree with critics who say that it’s not “real poetry”? Have you read any instapoetry, and if so, what are your favorite authors/poems/collections?

Do you think social media platforms have changed how people discover poetry?

Absolutely. Books like Milk and Honey really shifted the way many people view poetry, especially when it came out in 2014. It brought in a huge wave of new readers who maybe never would have picked up a poetry collection otherwise. I remember the explosion of “instapoetry,” or short free-verse poetry, after (especially since I was in my prime Tumblr era)!

Social media is extremely powerful, especially when it comes to shaping what people read. Just look at how much more popular romance books became after BookTok became a thing. So many people who hadn’t read a book in years were suddenly enjoying books!!

Do you think “instapoetry” makes poetry seem more approachable, or do you agree with critics who say that it’s not “real poetry”?

I think it’s probably the most approachable form of poetry we have right now, since most hesitant readers are naturally intimidated by “traditional” poetry. I see this all the time with my high school students. Whenever we read Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (a free-verse poem), I always hear complaints at the beginning that “poetry is too hard to understand.” But by the end, I usually have a handful of students asking for more books like it.

They’re still engaging with complex, heavy themes, but the format doesn’t scare them off. And half the time, they don’t even realize how much they’re analyzing because it doesn’t feel like they are spending too much brain power trying to dissect a text.

I am a firm believer that free verse poetry is poetry — in fact, I think it’s more difficult to pull off, because writers have to create rhythm and depth in their writing without a specific structure.

I think a lot of the negative views towards free verse poetry stem from the simplicity of the ones that gain popularity. I have seen some “instapoetry” that is only one or two words, and without the context of surrounding poems, they don’t really stand out on their own. And as I said, it’s difficult to pull off, and there’s a lot of bad poetry out there.

That’s why I think collections matter so much. Collections can really make or break the effectiveness of the poems. Typically, there’s more of a theme or continuing “storyline” that each poem follows, so they start to build off of each other.

And the topics are usually so important! Typically, poetry dives into complex themes, like domestic violence, sexual assault, feminism, gun violence, racism, LGBTQ+ rights, and much more. It is a powerful way to spread important messages in a more accessible form.

Have you read any instapoetry, and if so, what are your favorite authors/poems/collections?

I have read some “instapoetry” in the past, but I don’t read it regularly enough to have favorites. Looking through my photo app, Tyler Knott Gregson is a poet I have saved a few different times on my phone. Here is my favorite poem I have saved:

What should I say
when I want to kiss
the side of your neck
and leave it at that?
When I want to feel the heat
of my own breath bounce back
and warm my lips after I
strategically place them
on my favorite pieces
of your skin.
I want to leave goosebumps
everywhere I have not yet
kissed and spend the night trying to read them
like Braille.”
- "What should I say" by Tyler Knott Gregson

However, I find myself gravitating more toward longer works, especially novels in verse. I like having extended space for character and story development while still getting the emotional connection that poetry typically brings.

At the end of the day, I think poetry will always be something that people gravitate towards. While “instapoetry” might not be everyone’s favorite, it has likely led many readers who would’ve written poetry off completely to try it. Anything that gets people reading and thinking a little more deeply is always something I’m going to see value in.

Do you read any types of short-form poetry? I’d love to get some of your recommendations, especially ones I can recommend to my high schoolers!