Poetry: Past, Present and Future by Anthony La’Mont Owens, II
Thu, Apr 17, 2008  “I have not loved the world, nor the world me; I have not flattered its rank breath, nor bowed to its idolatries a patient knee.” -Lord Byron “Great English Poets”
Lord Byron spoke of many things as do many poets of this modern day and age. Poetry has existed in the world longer than literature itself. Poets were once used as oral historians to record great wars, or tell stories of love, record laws or even record genealogy as in the case of the Ramayana. In the third century B.C.E., a Sanskrit epic known as the Ramayana was written. The entire document is in poetic form and in a language that is described as “…more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either…” by Sir William Jones, an English philologist and student of ancient India.
If you were to ask a person: What is Poetry? They might describe it as something an outcast would use to win over the affections of a woman he has feelings for. I always laugh at the answer, not because it’s completely wrong, but more because it is somewhat true. Love plays a major role in the fabric of poetry and some love poems are as old as the Ramayana Sanskrit I spoke of.
While digging to find the tombs of Ancient Pharaohs in Egypt, an archaeologist came across poems that talked about how the Pharaoh loved his wives, his kingdom, his children, etc. The most famous poem is “The Flower Song” that was written during the ‘New King’ era in Egypt. “To hear your voice is pomegranate wine to me. I draw life from hearing it. Could I see you with every glance, it would be better for me than to eat or to drink.”/i> (excerpt: Flower Song). That poem used many techniques that current artists use today in poetry and any other form of writing, be it songs, literature or any thing else.
Poets of this day, or of days passed, often use poetry to tell stories. Most of the older poetry can not be broken down into just one particular meaning because of its depth and the reader’s mental view of the poem. But in this day, many of the spoken word poets use a direct approach to tell the audience or reader how they see a certain thing. Hip Hop or R.A.P. is a prime example of poets who use the direct approach.
Many ‘old schoolers’ think of rap as just a bunch of knuckle heads talking about nothing over a bunch of base drums and samples of ‘their’ R&B classics. But in truth, poetry is one of the main parts of R.A.P. In fact, poetry helps make the title of R.A.P.; its original meaning is Rhythm And Poetry. Meaning that poetry was and always has been one of the top forefathers of hip hop’s origin, along with break dancing, graffiti, disc jockeys (DJs), and fashion.
Poetry and urban music have always put black eyes on the mainstream white suburbanites of America. When Little Richard talked about “Miss Molly” he was clearly talking about sex with a woman. When the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown said, “Say it loud!” he fueled the pride in blacks who where being mistreated, so they could fight the system.
Public Enemy and N.W.A. did the same thing in their decade that those soul artists of the old school did. Every time you hear “Fight the Power,” you want to throw a can into a window or just rebel against all the wrongs. When N.W.A. said; “F^&* the Police”, you know they said what we all wanted to say, but couldn’t. Those lyricists are what I call the Shakespearian poets of the ghetto. They help you, the listener, to visualize what they feel; they give you a straight arrow approach.
One of those gifted artist that come to mind is Tupac Shakur. Tupac spoke of so many things and his poetry was so contradictory, that people to this day, many years after his death, are still trying to understand how his words influenced the entire world. When he talked about his relationship with his mother in “Dear Momma,” he spoke directly and unhesitantly about the trials and tribulations he went through. It was so powerful that you could feel his love for her, but at the same time understand his pain. “And even thought you was a crack fiend Momma, you still were a black Queen Momma.” He spoke of how she divulged her pain from life experiences in narcotics as he experienced life in the ghetto with a single parent.
Some poems can lift the spirits of the lost or tell stories of pain and genocide. Some poems from the past talked of victorious wars kingdoms had won and in some instances those poems were complete falsehoods. The Great Pharaoh Remises II ordered his hieroglyphist to record a war his kingdom had lost as a victory. His ego wouldn’t allow him to be viewed as a looser or weak. Ancient Egyptians believed if you were victorious your whole life, you would become a God in the afterlife. And Remises wanted nothing else.
Another poem that’s a complete lie is; “Ocean Blue.” The poem leads you to believe Columbus was the first person to ever discover our country, but in fact America was already founded by a man many years before whose name is the name of our dear country.
For many people, poetry or writing is a form of self expression and the only true freedom of speech. It is a scapegoat for many people; the writer feels more comfortable with the pen and pad instead of their mouth and the audience. A perfect example is Mr. Langston Hughes. He said he was no longer going to be in the shadows, he would finally also be accepted as American. And just like Mr. Hughes, James Brown and many of the other soul singers and rappers, poetry is my therapy. Regardless if it’s over a Little John beat or for political purposes.
When I write I feel free to say how I feel and express myself. Once my poem is complete I feel at ease and another layer sheds away. Poetry allows me to breathe and not ask why. Many people ask themselves why and never give enough time to answer; instead they follow the first question with a second then a third and so on and so forth. I’d be a fool if I told you that I never question myself, but now that I’ve discovered my poetic side, my list of questions has gotten smaller and smaller.
Poetry will forever be the unfit-able piece of the puzzle that is literature. It’s funny, full of love, utterly dismal and depressing, inspiring, or just plain weird. But it’s the questions you have to ask that leave you wanting to know more. Poetry is life and it will always be our only real freedom of speech.
So with that being said, “Let the Love poems influence you to cherish the ones you hold close to your heart, Let the NewDay Shakespeare poets bring you wisdom that will uplift you to the light and out of the dark. And may your mind never be swept by anything other than a soft bristled brush as it tames your strength, because knowledge is power so let the pen be your gift.” -Anthony “Aceyon” Owens
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