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Poetry Is Cool: You Should Read More Of It

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Mallory Thompson Student Contributor, The University of Kansas
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at KU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

There’s a general consensus in society that poetry is nothing more than sappy love confessions and haikus about a single leaf, but the genre of poetry has so much more to offer than the anti-intellectual overgeneralization that is often portrayed.

there’s poetry out there for everyone

There are boundless themes explored in published poetry, from grief and loss to love and friendship, you name it, there’s a poem about it. Authors often use life experience to drive their writing, meaning that many human emotions and complex thoughts are articulated in various ways through the lens of poetry. A poem may help you navigate your current situation in life, or at the very least, show you that you are not alone.

its accessible

Poetry can be a good way to enjoy the benefits of reading without committing to a long form book. It’s easy to pick up and digest in small increments of time, which makes it a good option for those looking to expand their mind in a time crunch. Poetry can also be easily re-read, which allows you to gain a deeper understanding of the text in a way that is not always possible with books.

Poetry fosters human connection

At the center of every poem is a human being experiencing life for the first time and writing about it, so there’s a good chance you’ll relate to what they have to say. Poetry allows you to understand the experiences of other people and find what you have in common.

Mallory Thompson is currently a freshman at the University of Kansas double majoring in Journalism and Music Performance with a concentration in French Horn. She is originally from Columbus, KS.

In her free time, Mallory enjoys participating in all things music, and currently plays in the KU symphonic band. She also loves reading and watching movies.