If there is an art form that is distinctly romantic, it would be poetry. Since its conception, poetry has been used to convey a vast array of emotions, and love is arguably the most commonly discovered emotion within our poetic history. From the Greek epics to the sonnet to contemporary poetry, love is present, even in the absence of romance.
Throughout history, the poetry of love has changed, depending on the time period, the culture, and the current understandings of love as a force within the poets’ lives. Love changes due to religion, revolution, destruction, and desire. And love is not restricted to romantic relationships– it also belongs to the family, to nature, to the nation, to the workplace, to the self.
The love poetry of America is distinct from the poetry of other countries and cultures. American poetry draws on its history, its expansiveness, and its “melting pot” of cultures, values, and ideas. When asked what makes American poetry American, an unnamed poet replied, “We’re the nation… where people write love poems to themselves” (Selinger 27).
This project looks to explore these qualities of American poetry, to examine the creative periods of its history and dig down into it, find its heart, and then try to replicate its pulse. The journey begins here.
Give All To Love 