In Honor Of World Poetry Day, Let’s Take Back What The Woke Have Stolen

A poet’s duty is to transport souls beyond the human dimension through their work. However, is creating poetry possible when woke culture is en vogue? Is the art of poetry destined to be a political tool for spreading woke culture and male-phobic feminism?

As the founder of Poetry Renaissance, a global poetry movement that creates spaces for poetry’s free expression worldwide, I would like to share my two cents on the matter.

If we look at contemporary poetry in the West, such as in America, it’s clear that woke and feminist themes have become quite invasive in recent years. The powerful woke culture enters poetry circulation to impose its values and cancel all others. Unfortunately, it works, as competitions, events, and publishing houses tend to support poetry of a certain political flavor.

Many poets laureate who are chosen by public institutions nowadays’ reek of woke. As a result, poets who don’t promote woke values are slowly being replaced by woke activists. It’s as if writing against woke culture excludes one from certain poetic circuits, making your work unwelcome.

It’s also interesting to note that feminist poetry is now a genre of its own, dividing poetry based on ideology, which doesn’t make much sense to me. If you aren’t feminist, it’s nearly impossible to find a place in universities, festivals or poetic institutions today. And especially among the most prominent publishers.

Ironically, the most renowned American poet internationally is still Charles Bukowski.

However, I’m not saying that woke and feminist themes should disappear from poetry. It would be great if they didn’t become the only themes voiced in poetry. The American poetic tradition, which gave birth to poets like Walt Whitman and Robert Frost, presents Amanda Gorman, a phenomenon that I find inexplicable. As an outsider, it’s a worrying process to observe.

It’s crucial to note that political poetry has always been part of the poets’ world. Many great poets had a political side, such as Horace, Dante, and William Wordsworth. Nonetheless, this period is characterized by the politicization of everything, leading to an influx of political poetry in America.

Wokeness and feminism censor words that undermine their ideology; poets require the liberty to allow their words to soar. Poetry’s principle serves to touch diverse groups, making it universal. Walt Whitman is an exceptional example of this, as he spoke to the entire world from his American experience, rather than being an American patriot.

The ideology of wokeness floods the delicate universe of poetry, applying political categories to many people, leading to labeling through one dimension. Art and poetry are essential in escaping simple social logic like this. A poet is one who uses poetry as a tool to move beyond limitations’ simplistic nature.

Poetry needs to be free to allow creative expression. While it seems that there isn’t much interest in poetry among conservative groups, they too can’t save poetry from wokeness and its agenda. Only a commitment to freedom by poets that know real poetry deals with something above political and ideological divisions can save it.

As we mark World Poetry Day, note that poetry flourishes worldwide thanks to social networks. Anyone with verses in their heart can answer Walt Whitman’s invitation and contribute to the verse. In my experience, which has entailed my work with Poetry Renaissance, with all its activities, readings, contests, shows that there’s no better breeding ground for poetry than unrestrained expression.

Ultimately, freedom is what’s needed in the world of poetry, just as it was once prevalent across America. While the woke agenda tries to obscure it, poetry’s mystical world still provides insight into the human soul. As poet laureate Charles Wright states, “I believe in the mystery of things, and I believe the poet’s job is to try to corral that mystery.”

Regardless of the challenges that poets face, it’s necessary to be free and access different colors to paint poetry. Censorship, in any form, harms any creative arts industries; therefore, our poets must remain free to create.

Paolo Gambi is an Italian multimedia artist, poet, and a contributor to “Il Giornale,” Italy’s primary conservative newspaper. He is the founder of Poetry Renaissance and has published more than thirty books. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.