Just recently a good friend of mine brought something up. He said that there wasn’t any good writing anymore. For a moment I agreed but after a while it weighed on my mind. Could it really be that good writing was dead? Of course when you keep thinking of Oscar Wilde, Bukowski, Shakespeare and Dickens your mind might lead you into that direction but after some I thought I realized it’s not dead at all it’s just changing direction.

The literature of today is much like society. It’s quick, it’s bitter and it’s to the point. It focuses a lot on social issues – some of the heaviest being racism, feminism and homophobia. Poetry is back and it’s stronger than ever so today I am going to share with you some modern day writing you might want to take a look at.

Milk and Honey Rupi Kaur

She just released a book on self love, love and loss. This Toronto based poet is an Indian woman who is changing roles in our society. She keeps her poems short and striking. Here is a poem below to get your started.

“Our backs tell stories
no books have the spine to carry”

The Anatomy of Being Shinji Moon

Her book has been released on Amazon. She is a poet from New York City and is in school for Ethnic Studies. Her poetry tends to be dreamy but not flowery or pompous. The emotion in it is something that you would want somebody to say to you.

“All you need is a twenty in your pocket and a bus ticket.
All you need is someone on the other end of the map, thinking about the supple
curves of your body, to guide you to a home that stretches out for miles
and miles on end.”

Love and Misadventure Lang Leav

The girl who cries wolf. She will also bring you on heartbreaking dreamy adventures with her words. She has written more than one poetry book and we hope she writes more- of course only if she is inspired.

“Always

You were you
and I was I;
we were two
before our time.

I was yours
before I knew,
and you have always
been mine too.”

It’s easy to mock the new generation and live with that Midnight in Paris kind of whimsy. However know that it still here and it’s going strong. It’s up to you to take part in the new literature movement. Happy Reading!