When you hear the word poetry, what do you think?
Do you picture Robert Frost n' some snowy trees? Dost thee shake thy fist at the painfully difficult language of Shakespeare? Or stop trying altogether after delving into the cynical style of Emily Dickinson? Many of us shudder at the idea of poetry, thinking solely of the classic poems we cursed in high school––the poems we never fully understood and forced to analyze.
via smosh.com
If you are anything like me, pulling out every use of alliteration, assonance, consonance, simile, metaphor, imagery, onomatopoeia (I still can't spell that one), enjambment, and the like has truly scarred you. It's rendered you unable to enjoy what you read, subconsciously turning you away from an art-form that is seen as one of the truest forms of human expression. But, would you believe me if I told you that there is poetry out there that is enjoyable––poetry we can relate to without Webster's Dictionary by our sides? Friends, Romans, College Students... I come to open your minds to contemporary poetry.
via weheartit.com
After being stuck in a long post-AP Literature rut, my brother handed me a thin white book, decorated like a minimalist version of Casper, titled "Ghost Machine."
He proceeded to tell me this tiny book was a manuscript of haunting poems written by one of his favorite poets, Ben Mirov. I hesitantly cracked open the little white book and the game instantly changed. "This is poetry...? Are you sure....?" Here's a sample, titled Ghost Transmitter:The knowledge of my receivers grows dim.
I can only misquote what the voice tries to say.
I will probably never see it in the mirror.
I am finally caressed by a thought.
via caketrain.org
I was captivated. Mirov, and poets of his kind, take a more straightforward approach. No need for the stupidly elevated language I-can't-understand bullsh*t; they have created a new age of poetry that is easily approachable and incredibly intriguing to anyone.
Ben Mirov appealed to me because he fit my criteria:
1. He is weird.
2. He has cynical thoughts.
3. He observes his own intricacies and imperfections.
4. He sees the world through an obscure lens to which I can relate ever-so-perfectly.
The great news is that, with a little exploration, there is absolutely a poet you will enjoy and relate to, as well one that will inspire you, allowing you see the human experience through their expression.
