Ah, Instagram, an electronic world full of models, memes, and functioning alcoholism.
We love our followers and are delighted when our phones light up with notifications about who "liked" our latest post and when. But, there is more to the app than pretty people and their significant others (who are always traveling together, must be nice).
The app has a plethora of creators who dedicate their accounts entirely to original content, including music, photography, drawing, and, of course, poetry. Below are 11 of the best poetry accounts to follow on Instagram to throw some spice into your scrolling.
1. Lacey (@laceypaigeramburger)
"just tell me
that somehow
it was enough;
maybe not for
you to stay
but enough
to wonder
if you
should
have."
What drew me Lacey's poetry account most was the theme she's created. Her poems are photographed outside, making each post feel like a warm, breezy day. Seeing her photos on my feed is incredibly refreshing because they're so simple - no obnoxious filters or excessive emojis littering the screen, just her writing, and some trees.
While Lacey seems to write primarily about love and heartbreak, she also writes about life and the trials and triumphs associated with it, and what it means to be living in the bodies we're given.
Lacey also runs a personal Instagram, and has written an article for Thought Catalog titled, "Here Is The Poem You Absolutely Need, Based On Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type."
2. skushno (@s.kushno)
"The Golden Rule"
"most of the time
the only thing that ever comes
from treating the hearts of others
the way you want someone to treat yours
is someone who recognizes
that you're still playing by the rules."
Skushno's poetry is handwritten on lightly colored backgrounds, making their Instagram a dream for persons with pastel aesthetics. Occasionally, they'll collaborate with another artist to provide an illustration for their words, too, which makes for super cute posts.
In Skushno's words: "I like to write about my thoughts and feelings on life and love and loss and everything else." Their writing is raw, personal, and relatable because they write without concern for big, "fluffy" words - they're writing to write, not to impress.
Skushno also runs a personal Tumblr where they post longer pieces of their work.
3. Javier Rivera (@j.e.rivera)
"Tell him
there's no such thing
as being "a man"
He's human
and he should
embrace it."
Anybody who personally knows me and follows my Instagram account already knows how much I absolutely adore Javier's writing.
The raw emotion he consistently portrays through his words is powerful and impressive, encouraging his readers (especially the boys) to reveal their thoughts and feelings without shame. Rivera writes about emotional vulnerability and what it's like to live with the expectations of being a "man," the elation and downfalls of being in love, sex, and silly topics that catch his attention.
I've been following Javier Rivera on Instagram for months now, and have never once regretted the decision.
4. J.l.koz (@j.l.koz_poetry)
"I wonder about all the things I do not know yet
and I wonder which will be the one that will
change my life in the blink of an eye."
J.l.koz is a marvel for the poetry world, as she skips the cliché topics often overdone within the genre. Her Instagram page is filled with pieces about her relationship with herself, and the wonders she harbors about the future and her place in it.
She writes about love in the form of self-acceptance and appreciation, not romantic relationships. She writes about loss, but in a way that exemplifies her journey to find who she feels most comfortable being. She writes about emotions, but in a complex style that makes her relatable, yet unique.
5. Perry Poetry (@perrypoetry)
"You are more
than just a heartbeat
in a world
that forgets to love."
Perry Poetry is for the hopeless romantic that lives in many of us, as they write about love and everything that goes along with it.
Short, often one sentence poems fill their page, detailing the uncertainty that occasionally accompanies romance, the elation of being with somebody you're in love with, and the recovery process if the relationship goes sour.
6. r.clift (@r.cliftpoetry)
"I spend my time
writing love notes
for people who think of
somebody else
when they read them."
r.clift is one of my favorite poets on this list for a multitude of reasons.
First, the theme of her page is perfect: simple, but eye-catching. She places small drawings or items, like leaves, writing utensils, or stones, in the photos where the object correlates with the written work.
Second, it's very obvious that she draws from personal experiences for the inspiration behind her writing. She utilizes personal stories from her childhood, and achievements and losses of her own to make her writing distinct, even if it does follow commonplace themes.
Finally, r.clift's writing appears to include coping mechanisms and hope in the undertones of their pieces. Often, it seems poets are fueled by negative emotions; they write when they're sad, or angry, or have hate in their heart, and it's rare that those writers ever end their poems on a light note.
This writer is very different, however, in that they tend to lean towards a positive ending, reminding the reader, and themselves, that even if things aren't perfect right now, they probably won't stay that way forever.
7. Sonia Motwani (@viva_la_poema)
"Refrain yourself
from the thought
of cliff,
If even the sight
of the steep
cracks your will."
I love, love, love Sonia's Instagram page, as it follows my ever-so-obvious appreciation of themes, specifically that to do with nature and illustrations, and illuminates their sassy writing style.
Their Instagram features shorter, to the point written works, predominately only a sentence or two in length, but guaranteed to pack a punch nonetheless. They write of relationships, presumably romantic in nature, and of self-love and the (sometimes) uncomfortable process of achieving it.
In this process, Sonia writes from the point of view of your body, or your heart, encouraging you to get the discomfort over with a leap of confidence. Their writing is giving the reader a pep talk, being the harsher side of a reality check that we all occasionally need.
Sonia runs an additional WordPress blog where they post longer pieces and visuals.
8. Allison Marie Conway (@allisonmarieconway)
"Where is it
we think
we come from
if not
from love."
I've touched on themes throughout the entirety of this article, and I'm about to again, because Allison Marie Conway definitely does not disappoint. Her Instagram page is absolutely beautiful, as nearly every photo includes pastel flowers against a light background, all centered around her words.
Style wise, she keeps her writing relatively short, just as others in this list have done, but her content is extremely unique. Allison writes about her hopes and desires for herself, and the rest of the world, along with questions that could potentially hinder the success she strives for. She desires more "warm people" in the world, prompting the above poem; if people don't recognize that they come from love, how can they give it to others?
She doesn't keep another blog, but has released a poetry and prose book entitled, Luminae.
9. Iris Nox (@irisnocturnal)
"In the midst of darkness
I fear,
That I will never have the courage,
And you will never have the intention.
And I will go on living,
Wondering if we could've been one."
Iris' theme is very light and dark, night and day, as every current post on their Instagram page is gray scale; this is a benefit, though, as it's incredibly easy on the eyes, and corresponds with the content of their writing.
Their writing is kind of sad, actually, but done well nonetheless. Iris posts about love and heartbreak, and what it means to be a woman experiencing these feelings. They write about the overwhelming emotions that seem to correlate to anxiety and depression, making them a good page to check out if you're every feeling angsty.
