In a narrower sense, contemporary poetry often refers to poetry that is written in a style or form that is characteristic of the present time. Modern poetry and performance poetry are two such examples of genres of contemporary poetry.
Finally, contemporary poetry can also refer to poetry that deals with contemporary issues or themes. Such poems may explore topics such as technology, globalization, climate change, or social injustice.
Here is a more detailed explanation of each of these definitions:
1. Poetry that is written in the present time: This is the most broad definition of contemporary poetry, and it includes all poems that are written today and in the past few years. However, some people argue that contemporary poetry should only include poems that are written in the present moment, and that poems written in the past should be considered historical poetry.
2. Poetry that is written in a style or form that is characteristic of the present time: This definition of contemporary poetry focuses on the formal qualities of poetry, such as the use of free verse, fragmentation, or other experimental techniques. Poems that are written in a traditional style or form, such as sonnets or villanelles, are therefore not considered contemporary poetry.
3. Poetry that deals with contemporary issues or themes: This definition of contemporary poetry focuses on the content of poems, rather than their form. Poems that deal with contemporary issues or themes are often considered to be more relevant and engaging to today's readers.
In reality, most contemporary poems fall into more than one of these categories. For example, a poem that is written in a contemporary style and deals with a contemporary theme would likely be considered contemporary poetry by most people. However, there is no one right definition of contemporary poetry, and it is ultimately up to each individual reader to decide what they consider to be contemporary poetry.