By Stephen Landis, CNM Student, November 24, 2025
These days, when people think of poetry, they usually think of something printed on deco art, next to a “Live, Laugh, Love” sign; basically a canvas print you’d find at Hobby Lobby. Even at CNM, where we have amazing outlets like the Leonardo Magazine, poetry tends to stay in the circles of people who already love it.
When I first started writing poetry, most people were encouraging of my creative expression, but I could tell they thought I was practically diving into old Shakespearean love sonnets. They didn’t see poetry as a way to express struggles, religious faith, humor, or social commentary.
I didn’t want that to be the cultural viewpoint of such a beautiful craft. Poetry has shaped cultures, challenged world leaders, and given people language for moments too heavy to explain. There’s a reason it’s often amongst the first things targeted when a society burns books. This art form deserves better than being reduced to decoration.
So I decided to bring poetry into real spaces again.
I’ve been partnering with local bookstores and my church to make my work accessible to people who value community over online monopolies, such as I do. Supporting local matters. Not just for the local economy, but for the culture we build around it. My first book signing in May of this year brought a huge crowd, which reminded me that people do care about poetry when it’s placed in front of them with intention. With this, I hope to have more events in the future.
I’m also working on a children’s chapter book based on one of my poems. If we want poetry to mean something in the future, we have to spark imagination early. Kids deserve stories that stir creativity.
My recent collection, Grace: And Other Poems, became part of this effort, as one more way to show that poetry can still speak to the deeper parts of life. For me, the included poetry is a bridge between the physical, mental, and spiritual. It’s a way to talk about trials in life, my personal religious faith, the longing for a better future, and hope, with nothing but honesty. Scripture inspires much of what I write, reminding me that grace isn’t earned; it’s given. Words have the power to carry that truth farther than we expect.
At the end of the day, I’m not trying to sell anything. I’m trying to revive something.
Poetry isn’t meant to sit on a wall or a shelf. It’s a voice. It’s a historical record of culture. It’s social commentary. It’s laughter. It’s a mirror. And if I can help even a few people rediscover that, then every poem I write is worth it.
