Spoken Word or Written Poetry: Why Both Are Amazing – Written By Gwen

I’ve always loved poetry. There’s just something about it—the way a few lines can convey so much, the way it captures emotions you didn’t even realize you were feeling. But over the years, I’ve learned to see poetry as more than one thing. For me, it exists in two very different but equally powerful realms: spoken word and written poetry.

And honestly? I adore both.

The Power of Spoken Word

Have you ever been in a room, hearing someone recite a poem out loud, and gotten chills? That’s the magic of spoken word. It’s poetry that dances, in every possible meaning of the word. The poet’s voice, their physicality, their pauses, their passion — you feel it all. Poetry comes alive in spoken word.

It’s bold. It’s emotional. This form regularly addresses genuine and impactful themes such as identity, inequality, heartbreak, or healing. This connection reaches people on a deeply personal level. People are drawn to the experience because it provides them not only with words but also with direct access to someone's authentic emotions.

The art of spoken word shows me that poetry exists not only for reading but also to be shared with others.

The Magic of Written Poetry 

Written poetry exists as a companion for those who enjoy a cozy reading session complete with a comforting cup of tea. It’s softer, maybe, but no less powerful. The ability to decelerate through written poetry is what I appreciate most. I read the same line repeatedly while underlining it and writing notes in the margins. I discover new elements in it when I return to it days after my initial reading.

Written poetry creates an intimate dialogue between you and the poet. Written poetry creates room for reflection and breathing while allowing words to settle as you consider them.
The silence between poetry lines allows me to hear my voice, which makes it incredibly valuable to me.

Why We Don’t Have to Choose
Here’s the thing: it’s not about better or worse form. They’re simply different doors to the same room. Some poems demand to be shouted out from a stage; others wish to be whispered across a page. And some? Some do both.

​Both forms have allowed me to make sense of myself and the world around me. They’ve made me laugh and cry and think and heal. And that’s why I think spoken word and written poetry belong in our hearts — and our shelves.
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So whether you’re clapping in a crowded space after a performance that hits you in that special way, or quietly steeping in a poem at 3:00 a.m., remember: poetry is doing what it’s always done, connecting us, one word at a time.

This blog post was written by Gwen.