What does a modern poet look like and how are they impacting the world right now?

Nowadays, a poet can look like a college student, a corporate businessman, or even a 13 year old private school student. With the rise in political unrest and divides, new poetry has been able to take form. A more recent form of poetry is Spoken Word, Slam Poetry, and Blog Poetry.

Some of the more focused poetry that is impacting people nationally is poetry talking about the #BlackLivesMatter movement all the way to poetry on self expression, confidence, and fighting against bullying. I personally feel as if popular modern poetry is those which focus on political struggles and issues.

Poetry can be nontraditional and without specific styles. It can be vibrant and unique. I, as a young poet, have been given a chance to publish my poetry in a chapbook, "What Is?" which mostly is about addressing many topics affecting the world currently. Below is an excerpt from one of my poems, "Stained Concrete."

We walk blindly on the concrete

Stained with the blood of a boy who dreamed

Of becoming an investigator

But he became the crime scene

We walk blindly on the red concrete

Missing the eyes of a boy who was only 16

Now blood-covered and stricken

Too deaf to hear his scream

We walk blindly on the red concrete

Our youth struck down on his knees

His face remembering

                                                             Feeling the summer breeze

We continue to walk blindly on his hardened blood

Not stopping because it’s just another 1 dead

Won’t pause to fully recognize

That the concrete is still stained red