Reimagining history : writing poems about early exploration

Abstract

Historical poetry is a valuable way to engage with the past. It not only allows readers to gain a better understanding of a prior time period, but it also gives them the opportunity to connect with historical figures, famous or not, in a very intimate way. Even so, for poets, the decision to write historical poetry can be daunting. To write a historical poem, let alone an entire collection of historical poetry, requires an extensive amount of research and dedication. It also subjects the poet to substantial criticism, not just from the writing community, but from historicists as well. Poets of historical poetry struggle with verisimilitude, with the problem of ensuring that their poetic work reflects the historical event or time period they are writing about truthfully, while at the same time making certain to maintain their own creative license. Failing to uphold one of those aspects can either result in a collection historicists consider inauthentic or a collection poets deem unreadable. Each betray the poet's audience in some way.