8 Writers Who Are Taking Poetry Beyond the Page

By Claire Shannan - April, 8th 2016

Instagram is now the second biggest social network in the world. Boasting more than 400 million average monthly users, the photo-sharing platform that was responsible for the resurgence of the ‘selfie’ and bestowed celebrity status upon pet cats has evolved into a powerhouse for mediums of creative expression.

One such medium that has amassed quite a following over the past few years is poetry. Now I’m not talking about poetry in the traditional sense, but rather a contemporary twist on prose called free verse. It is without rhyme and rhythm, but contrary to it’s name, it can be very restrictive. Conveying an emotion with conviction in as few words as possible is no easy task, something even the most seasoned of writers will concede.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the United States’ National Poetry Month, we’re proud to present eight of the finest wordsmiths on Instagram.

High Poets Society, @highpoetssociety

One of Instagram’s most popular modern poets, High Poets Society has amassed over 100K followers in under two years, winning fans with his punchy, emotive and often funny works. Definitely one to follow for all fans of contemporary poetry:

K. Towne Jr, k.towne.jr

Another mainstay of the Instagram poetry community, K. Towne Jr is a prolific writer with an honest and unique approach, producing short and memorable pieces that linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading:

Another English Poet, @anotherenglishpoet

This relative newcomer to the poetry scene is quickly building a solid fanbase with short, incredibly emotional pieces that manage to convey a huge amount in very few words. Somewhat mysterious and enigmatic, this clearly talented writer is definitely one to watch:

Confessions of Her, @confessionsofher

One of my personal favourites, Confessions of Her produces bittersweet poems that are simultaneously beautiful and heartbreaking. I think her tag line probably says it best – ‘Hand me a pen and I’ll write you a love story you’ll never forget.’ Well worth a follow:

R.M. Drake, @rmdrk

The superstar of the Instagram poetry scene, this celebrity favourite has built an incredibly loyal fanbase of over 1.5million followers. His poetry seems to have a universal appeal, reminiscent of breakup conversations or diary entries, his pieces resonate with people all over the world, making this Miami-based wordsmith Instagram’s most famous poet:

C.K., @poeticpoison

This incredibly talented writer is a favourite among poetry fans worldwide, composing strong, empowering pieces that drip with feminine pride and individualism. Definitely one to follow:

Kat Savage, @kat.savage

Another strong female writer, Kat Savage has been one of the most popular poets on the Instagram scene for some time, and it’s no wonder. Her poetry is emotional, honest and sometimes brutal, and is difficult to stop reading once you get started. Highly recommended:

R.H. Sin, @r.h.sin

This talented regular of the Instagram poetry community is another of my personal favourites, creating beautifully emotive pieces that are empowering, encouraging and full of superbly crafted prose. R.H. Sin has built a solid and rather impressive fanbase with a collection of poetry that any modern wordsmith would be proud of:

So whether you’re in search of words of reassurance, a glimmer of hope or just someone to tell it exactly the way it is, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for among this burgeoning world of Instagram poets.