By Ellie Weiner.
I love words, and not just words themselves, but I love how they can be manipulated to
resonate differently with every person who reads them. The use of words is often most effective
in poetry- a small phrase can dictate the meaning of an entire poem. My relationship with poetry
is always changing; I absolutely love to read it, but somehow can never describe a moment in
time using a couple of words. I had the honor to interview poet Lauren Delisle, AKA
@apoeticrevival, whom I’ve been following for a while. Lauren is originally from Chicago but is
now based in LA, where she works for a Spotify podcast studio. Here’s her take on inspiration,
social media, and more:
How it Began
Lauren was influenced by poetry at a young age. She grew up hearing poems by Robert
Service, who remains a poet she admires today. “The Cremation of Sam McGee” and “The
Shooting of Dan McGrew” have lasting effects on Lauren, as Robert never fails to create
beautiful imagery with his words. Like me, Lauren valued words before she could even fully
comprehend them. In the second grade, her family lost a child. Words became a way to deal with
grief- “my dad handed me a green spiral notebook where I would write “Letters to Baby””
Lauren says. Because writing accompanied Lauren through some of the most difficult times of
her life, it became a part of who she was.
The Importance of Poetry in our Society
In an age where we can express our stance on an issue with a simple repost on instagram,
I found myself wondering the impact of poetry. How can it contribute to a movement such as the
Black Lives Matter movement? When I asked Lauren this question, she explained the importance
of poetry. While posting something on your story is contributing to the momentum of a
movement, it doesn’t have much of an effect on the people who see it. Words get your point
across, but poetry sticks with a person. Some of the most famous stories, like the Iliad, have been
told through rhyme, Lauren argues. Storytelling through poetry is crucial to cope with problems
in our society, but also to bring about change. Rather than being more logical and fact-based,
poetry connects with a person’s emotions. By using our words artistically, we can reproduce a
moment or a feeling for others to experience.
On Social Media
The internet gives us opportunities to showcase our work, but it also harbors a
tremendous amount of negativity. I realize that putting your work, a piece of yourself, out for the
world to see puts you in a vulnerable position. I brought the subject up during my interview with
Lauren, and she explained how she’s had both positive and negative experiences with social
media. In high school, after posting a comedy skit on YouTube, Lauren received hateful
comments. While the experience caused Lauren to hinder her creativity, she’s come to realize
how social media positively affects the artistic community. I agree with her that there has been a
shift in many online communities, allowing creators to fully be themselves and gain support for
their work. Hate still exists, but many of us have realized the need to abandon cancel culture.
Social media can be a powerful tool for creatives- we just need to hold ourselves accountable and
use it for the right reasons.
A Final Word About Inspiration
I think that Lauren described inspiration perfectly- “I think it’s not so much about what
inspires as it is about how it inspires”. A sky full of stars is only a sky full of stars until you give
it value and emotion. Finding inspiration isn’t about what you see, but how it makes you feel.
“My inspiration comes from turning things over in my palm and asking them not about what they
are but why.” says Lauren. She believes that context is what transforms a group of words into a
living story that evokes a response from its reader. Expectations are often the biggest thing that
gets in the way between you and your work. Making a decision is the most important part,
Lauren says. It’s better to do something and fail than never try. Mistakes are inevitable as a
creator, and they teach you more about yourself.
Lauren’s Recommendations
Writer’s Block- https://vimeo.com/383457295
Podcast- creativity- “The Jungian Life -- Episode 120, Creativity: Drawing from the Inner Well.”
Poetry- Robert Service and Mary Oliver
A Crash Course On Love- Lauren Delisle
Find Ellie here.
Comments