This newsletter connects you with the vibrant world of independent poetry! Let's dive into 10 poems published from the 28th of April to the 4th of Mai 2025 on Substack!
i voted it’s complicated in the poll. i don’t generally enjoy instagram poetry, but i also want to defend it from elitist scorn. i have a whole post in my drafts about this topic lol. some months ago now i decided to give rupi kaur a second try, and reflecting on why most of her work doesn’t resonate with me helped me clarify what i do want from a poem. i also think it’s great that she and similar poets have made poetry feel more accessible to people. so it’s complicated! it might not be my personal favourite but it has value in the poetry ecosystem nonetheless.
I think so too, it's a gateway to poetry and thats something that helps us. I don't think there is a hobby or profession where people stat with most complicated aspect of it.
Thank you for bringing poetry to our feeds, for sharing poets, & for the dialogue and passion!
As for Instagram poetry, I've written about this topic in an essay somewhere else; perhaps I will refurbish it for my Substack. I think it's extremely complicated.
I think there's a reason people gravitate toward it (it being the average IG poem--snackable, easy to digest), and I think we have to respect that.
I think engaging with writing and turning to art is important, and people turn to IG poems for validation and to feel less alone. There's power in that.
I think not all of us have access to literature in the way that many others do.
On the other hand, I think a lot of Instagram poetry does the very very very bare minimum, maybe isn't even poetry at all, and plays on simple clichés rather than craft. It undermines itself and its readers so often.
So I think its execution and the consumption of it...is its own thing, and very much a product of the times.
I think a big aspect is the perception that people get outsized attention for low effort poetry. For the question if it is poetry, I think the intend matters a lot.
I think that’s a huge reason why people have such (negative) reaction to it, yes - for many, it seems to reduce the value of non-instagram poetry, but that’s only if we think of likes = value (even though measuring art this way is reductive…and good art has an eternal quality that the quickness of social doesn’t typically offer). I mean, something always has more mass appeal the more it is designed to appeals to the masses, which insta poetry does well and which non-insta poetry doesn’t try to do, really. We all want readers, but non-insta poetry is often harder to dig into, harder to “understand,” and therefore not as immediately splashy (whether that’s the intent or not). That’s why I think they’re sort of different beasts. I try to understand but obviously I am biased.
Thank you for including me in this list and writing such lovely things about my poem! I’m just starting out with my poetry writing journey so I really appreciate the support
Also, what an amazing group of poets to be in company with! <3
Thank you for sharing all of these wonderful poets!
As far as your poll, I feel like the way people talk about poetry is so contradictory sometimes! On one hand "poetry has become too academic and obscure for the average person, we need to reach out to the wider world." And on the other, "instagram poetry is low effort slop for idiots who don't appreciate poetry." I'm being dramatic but like... these things do contradict.
I follow some wonderful poets on instagram, and also see a fair amount of "bite sized" poems that I don't personally like-- but the more verse in the world, the better in my view!
musings at 00:34 is so beautiful, it’s so personal yet relatable at the same time. It touched me in a quiet sense, quite literally as if I was awake just past midnight.
thank you for the spotlight and kind words <3
i voted it’s complicated in the poll. i don’t generally enjoy instagram poetry, but i also want to defend it from elitist scorn. i have a whole post in my drafts about this topic lol. some months ago now i decided to give rupi kaur a second try, and reflecting on why most of her work doesn’t resonate with me helped me clarify what i do want from a poem. i also think it’s great that she and similar poets have made poetry feel more accessible to people. so it’s complicated! it might not be my personal favourite but it has value in the poetry ecosystem nonetheless.
I think so too, it's a gateway to poetry and thats something that helps us. I don't think there is a hobby or profession where people stat with most complicated aspect of it.
Thank you so much for including me, Tim. Truly an honor that my poetry touched your heart.
congrats, V!
Thank you so much, Kat!! :)
Thank you for bringing poetry to our feeds, for sharing poets, & for the dialogue and passion!
As for Instagram poetry, I've written about this topic in an essay somewhere else; perhaps I will refurbish it for my Substack. I think it's extremely complicated.
I think there's a reason people gravitate toward it (it being the average IG poem--snackable, easy to digest), and I think we have to respect that.
I think engaging with writing and turning to art is important, and people turn to IG poems for validation and to feel less alone. There's power in that.
I think not all of us have access to literature in the way that many others do.
On the other hand, I think a lot of Instagram poetry does the very very very bare minimum, maybe isn't even poetry at all, and plays on simple clichés rather than craft. It undermines itself and its readers so often.
So I think its execution and the consumption of it...is its own thing, and very much a product of the times.
Do I like most of it? No. Do I get it? Yes.
I think a big aspect is the perception that people get outsized attention for low effort poetry. For the question if it is poetry, I think the intend matters a lot.
I think that’s a huge reason why people have such (negative) reaction to it, yes - for many, it seems to reduce the value of non-instagram poetry, but that’s only if we think of likes = value (even though measuring art this way is reductive…and good art has an eternal quality that the quickness of social doesn’t typically offer). I mean, something always has more mass appeal the more it is designed to appeals to the masses, which insta poetry does well and which non-insta poetry doesn’t try to do, really. We all want readers, but non-insta poetry is often harder to dig into, harder to “understand,” and therefore not as immediately splashy (whether that’s the intent or not). That’s why I think they’re sort of different beasts. I try to understand but obviously I am biased.
Great suggestions, can't wait to dive in to these wonderful poets!
Thank you for including me in this list and writing such lovely things about my poem! I’m just starting out with my poetry writing journey so I really appreciate the support
Also, what an amazing group of poets to be in company with! <3
Thank you so much for the feature!! We hope to see you at a workshop soon. How amazing to share space with such incredible creatives <3
Thank you for sharing all of these wonderful poets!
As far as your poll, I feel like the way people talk about poetry is so contradictory sometimes! On one hand "poetry has become too academic and obscure for the average person, we need to reach out to the wider world." And on the other, "instagram poetry is low effort slop for idiots who don't appreciate poetry." I'm being dramatic but like... these things do contradict.
I follow some wonderful poets on instagram, and also see a fair amount of "bite sized" poems that I don't personally like-- but the more verse in the world, the better in my view!
What ever Instapoetry it is, somehow people need to learn that they like poetry and it is a gateway to that.
Thank you for taking the time to compile these! Great selection.
You're welcome :)
musings at 00:34 is so beautiful, it’s so personal yet relatable at the same time. It touched me in a quiet sense, quite literally as if I was awake just past midnight.