"People can put their best poems straight onto the web"

Roger McGough’s observation, “People can put their best poems straight onto the web,” reflects a profound shift in the way poetry and creativity are shared, read, and appreciated. Gone are the days when poets had to labor through daunting gates of publishers, editors, and costly print runs. The digital age, embodied in the internet, enables anyone with access and a passion for words to share their artistry instantly with a boundless audience. The democratization of publishing empowers voices that might previously have been silenced or overlooked due to traditional gatekeeping or logistical limitations.

The immediacy of online sharing fosters an intimate connection between poet and reader. A poem written in a moment of revelation or emotion can be published moments later, carrying that rawness and urgency to readers worldwide. This immediacy can lead to dialogues, communities, and collaborations that were rare or impossible before. Online platforms and social media have birthed dynamic poetic movements, from Instagram poetry to blogs and forums where feedback is immediate, constructive, and accessible. Poets gain exposure and readers discover diverse voices from all walks of life, breaking down barriers of geography, background, or societal status.

Furthermore, the internet enables a living, evolving anthology. Poems need not remain fixed, as in print, but can be reshaped, responded to, and reimagined in interactive spaces. Multimedia enhancements—images, audio, video—can accompany text, adding new dimensions to the poetic experience. This fluidity encourages experimentation, innovation, and a merging of artistic disciplines.

Yet the ease of publishing online presents challenges too. The abundance of work risks overwhelming readers, and the ephemeral nature of digital content demands new ways of discerning and preserving literary merit. Still, the opportunity outweighs the challenge: the web’s openness honors poetry’s essence—a means of connection, reflection, and expression—making the art form more accessible and relevant in the digital age than ever before.