Indiana Shaw Biography
My Biography is Coming Soon...

Am I Poet or Not

Blog Posted by Indiana Shaw: 11/12/2025 12:12:00 AM

Please Login to post a comment
Parker Avatar
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Homer springs to mind, as does Beowulf and Canterbury Tales…. Campfire stories and songs relating giant bear hunts….Lullabies comforting our ancestral children.
Parker Avatar
November 18, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The is something poetic in every lyric and as a device we remember songs because they have poetry-esque rhythms and rhymes and storytelling apparatus. You are a poet, indeed. Complex subject 2 b sure.
Shaw Avatar
November 19, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Hi Arlo, I remember reading somewhere poetry has been used since the beginning of time, the Sumerians used poetry to tell their stories, the story of Gilgamesh springs to mind, and the Egyptians even used poetry too when ordering stock, so I can only presume poetry is the true language of the gods. And which then came first, written/oral poetry, or lyrics solely written for music alone, in walks Sumerian Enheduanna who says both . . . lol
Cornish Avatar
November 14, 2025 at 7:08 PM
. “Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
Shaw Avatar
November 14, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Cheers Craig . . .
Etgen-Baker Avatar
November 14, 2025 at 6:28 AM
thought provoking post. I believe you're a poet first and foremost; music is icing on the cake
Shaw Avatar
November 14, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Hi Sara, as far as I know we have been adding music and vocals to poems since I don't know when, and it always came up as a poem, as long as the writer is known as a poet, and only lyrics if the writer is known as a musician . . .
Nicole Avatar
November 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The answer is simple. You're definitely a poet. : )
Shaw Avatar
November 14, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Sweet, Brandy, I can rest in peace now . . . lol
Cornish Avatar
November 13, 2025 at 6:24 AM
There is one simple answer here, and multiple complex answers. If we write poetry we can be called poets. Whether we are good at it is where the complex comes to play and when poetry, melody, dance (artistic presentation), multi-media etc. are intermingled, it magnifies that complexity. I don't think you can say a poet is first and foremost or vice-versa in any multi-media, which is why many of the most memorable songs have separate lyricists and melody writers; because each have their own idiosyncrasies that, when paired, few have the skills to optimize. The vast majority of #1 songs have lyrics that wouldn't stand well on their own as poetry. AI is a separate matter - NO simple answers!
Godwin Avatar
November 28, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I'm arriving on the scene late, I know, but feel the want to say for me, it's the lyrics, always words BUT I love them coupled with good music, especially emotive guitars.
Cornish Avatar
November 13, 2025 at 7:27 AM
@TOM - hence, my wording "The vast majority" and - "No simple answer". Except to say a song is more apt to be popular because of rhythm and melody than words. There are, of course, many exceptions, as there are with ANYTHING...
Scragg Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Lyrics are poetry coupled with music. There are so many forms out there that it seems anything you write could be considered poetry. It is down to the eye of the beholder but I would agree that songs are poems too. The audio helps others to hear how the creator intends their work to be read (or sang) Im afraid I don't even have a clue when it comes to AI as like you, I prefer to be authentic in what I write. I personally believe that this is the whole point of having the privilege to share in the gift of poetry. But that's my two penny worth. :-D
Scragg Avatar
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
As I say, I wouldn't have a clue when it comes to AI. Don't know how to use it. But the human expression is authentic and it gives each poet/artist dignity and a sense of achievement. AI like all tech has its place but it is stepping over a line it need not cross. Just my opinion. :-)
Shaw Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Thank you Natasha, that leads into my next blog, should AI be allowed to be used to put music and vocals to a poem, or songs above say a real musician, or singer, for me there is a art in the choice of AI music and vocals to promote the mood of your poetic work in your own particular way, I can imagine it upsetting a lot of musicians and singers crying out that they are losing out on their talents to AI . . .
Dietrich Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I wholly agree
Shaw Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Ello Andrea, I wholly agree with those who wholly agree even though I am not sure what they are wholly agreeing on . . . lol
Toney Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 7:14 AM
It makes me think of Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Prize for literature in 2016. The Nobel Prize committee recognized Bob Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” That’s good enough for me! :-)
Toney Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Indeed. Nice blog, Indiana.
Shaw Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Hi Mark, I love Bob Dylan, from that statement poetic expression and song tradition are clearly united, but still remain separate . . .
Achara Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Songs are poetry set to music.
Shaw Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
A stuttering Darth Vader, hold the thought there . . . lol
Shaw Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Sure Chetta, I found rhyme helped me a great deal back in the day to maintain words in my head, and lead me onto new words that rhymed with them, though the spelling of those words did not come until a lot later . . .
Achara Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
@Indiana. I recently learned that James Earl Jones (the voice of Star Wars Darth Vader) stuttered when he was young. He did not speak at school because he was bullied because of it. One time a teacher assigned reading poetry. Jones discovered that the rhythm of poetry allowed him to speak without a stutter.
Shaw Avatar
November 12, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Hi Chetta, I was pretty dyslectic back in the day, and used poetry to improve my writing and spelling, but I still have problems understanding things written, and the definition of the official differences between poetry, and lyrics just did not help me, to me it just seemed to be saying the same thing, but whilst clearly stating there is a difference, no help to me whatsoever . . . lol

Previous Blogs

Am I Poet or Not
Date Posted: 11/12/2025 12:12:00 AM

My Photos


Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace