Modern Poetry

Modern Poetry is a wonderful intersection of classic poetic tradition and the contemporary creative, poetic sensibility. Stay on top of poetry trends, discover contemporary poets, and dig deep into how poetry as an art form has evolved.

Warsan Shire Poems: A Collection for the Voiceless

3 minute read

Warsan Shire Poems: A Collection for the Voiceless Who is she? Born in Nairobi, raised in London, Somali British poet Warsan Shire has three incredible poetry collections and one smash hit Beyonce song showcasing her evocative verses. After publishing her first two chapbooks, Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth and Her Blue Body, Shire became the first Young Poet Laureate of London and the youngest inductee of the Royal Society of Literature. I’m from Somalia where there has been a war going on for my entire life. And my relatives and my friends and my mother’s friends have experienced things that you can’t imagine… Them being able to tell me, and then me writing it, it’s cathartic, being able to share their stories, even if it is something really terrible, something really tragic. Warsan Shire She was raised with tales of exile and resilience of her people. Shire’s poetry delves deeply into the traumatic experiences of immigrants and refugees. She writes about dysfunctional family dynamics, complex romantic relationships, body dysmorphia, misogyny, self-loathing, and sexual assault. Her poetry is raw and authentic. It showcased a sense of belonging, or lack thereof, that speaks to her experience and struggles with identity

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