Rattle

If you think poetry is only exciting or relevant to people who are stuck in Victorian England or wannabe Beatnik poets hanging out in the Mission in San Francisco, then you are sadly mistaken. Poetry – and the power of the written word – is alive and well all around us. From someone’s impassioned Facebook status update to Kanye West’s latest rap song, you just have to open your eyes to see it.

I recently stumbled upon a website called Rattle, which is completely devoted to spreading the power and importance of poetry in the 21^st century.

“We feel that poetry lost its way in the 20^th century, becoming so obscure and esoteric that mainstream readers have forgotten how moving language can be,” they explain on their site. “ As a result, most people learn to find their feelings in music, movies, and novels, while poetry languishes on its lone shelf in the bookstores, waiting only for its annual cameo at a university workshop.”

With modern technology changing the way we communicate daily, it’s easy to get lost in the visual wasteland and lose sight of true art. Take a moment for yourself today and check out Rattle’s site – it has new poems daily that touch on a range of topics. Allow your mind to wander and you might find yourself inspired enough to go check out an open-mic night in your town or pick up a pen and joint down a few stanzas that have been spinning in your head and just need to come out.