urban poetry
Metropolitan lyrical expression
Urban poetry is verse rooted in city life and its cultures—particularly hip-hop, spoken word, and slam poetry traditions.
The term often signals work by Black and Latino artists addressing street life, social justice, and inner-city experience: The festival featured urban poetry and open mic sessions.
Sometimes used as a marketing euphemism for poetry by people of color.
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- street artIllicit public murals
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
- vernacularEveryday regional speech
- rhyme schemesEnd-sound arrangement systems
train car · storytelling · voice of the people · multiculturalism · resilience · improvisation · spoken word · activism · lyrical flow · Nuyorican · gentrification · inner city · enjambment · cityscape · city lights · fire escape · street corner · protest movements