Poetry seems to be a lost art. For many it's a side passion, hobby, or something they simply like to read in their spare time. The age of Walt Whitman, John Keats, Robert Frost, William Blake, Langston Hughes, E.E. Cummings have all come to their end. Even the great Maya Angelou has passed away leaving us wonder if the life of a professional poet is possible in our current age. How would one even be able to build a career as a poet today?
Fortunately a new generation of poets are rising up to use written and spoken word to communicate powerful messages and reconnect us with humanity and the world around us. One of those poets is IN-Q.
IN-Q is a National Poetry Slam champion, award-winning poet, and multi-platinum songwriter. His groundbreaking achievements include being named to Oprah's SuperSoul 100 list of the world's most influential thought leaders, being the first spoken word artist to perform with Cirque Du Soleil, and being featured on A&E, ESPN, and HBO's Def Poetry Jam. He's inspired audiences around the world through his live performances and storytelling workshops. Many of his recent poetry videos have gone viral with over 70 million views combined.
In today's conversation IN-Q joins us to share his insights into the life of a modern poet, how he became a poet, using the language of poetry to communicate powerful messages, the importance of the muse, and how to craft a story.
