Why do we need poetry right now?

Poetry has a special power. It jumps right out at you and forces you to think. Hip-hop and rap are everywhere. You hear less spoken word forms - like poetry slams - but when you do, they cut like a knife.

These are texts that don't hide behind a beat. They are honest, open and truthful. And that scares some people. They then try to ignore them, saying they just want to dance and have fun. But in times like these, you need the power of the spoken word.