But veteran poet Malachi Edwin Vethamani has noticed that poetry has changed, with newcomers dabbling in the art form and treating it differently.

The 67-year-old said many Malaysians, especially the younger generation, have begun to do more performative poetry, also known as spoken word.

“People often say nobody reads poetry anymore, it is a dead art – but the new generation have all these open-mic sessions, giving it new life,” he told FMT in conjunction with World Poetry Day today.

“Young Malaysian poets speak about their identity and concerns. That is what poetry should do: it should link us with what is happening in our lives.

“These young poets have certainly contributed to the art form.”

‘Strong Malaysian presence’

Malachi’s love for poetry began he read the works of Walter Whitman and T S Eliot at age 18. He was captivated by the way these poets expressed themselves, which prompted him to write his own.

“One of the things I wanted in my writing is a very strong Malaysian presence… a kind of universal appeal. I wanted other people to connect with what I’m writing about.”

He has since published three volumes of his original poems – “Complicated Lives”, “Life Happens”, and “Rambutan Kisses” – which cover a wide range of Malaysian experiences such as love, loss, identity and sexuality.

The professor of Modern English Literature at University of Nottingham Malaysia believes there are many new avenues for youths to share their works and express themselves – for instance, via social media.

“Instagram poetry is not really valued because most people think it’s just [users] churning things out, but it’s a start. I wouldn’t look down on Instagram poetry,” he said.

“Even if you published your poetry [conventionally], it wouldn’t be perfect. There will always be a range in quality.”

For 29-year-old Jack Malik, a heartbreak in his early 20s led him to express himself through poetry. He found comfort in the writings of Malay poets Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim and Salleh Ben Joned.

The author of “Sajakjakja(c)k” said themes in poetry these days have not changed much and still touch on identity, although works in mixed languages are increasingly common.

“The new-age poets, like myself, do this because it is closer to us than just sticking to one language. It is also a way to brag and show we are Malaysian,” he said with a laugh; “that we can speak Malay fluently and sometimes change it to another language, and the poem flows.

“Most language purists don’t get it,” he added. “For me it is a craft. It means there must be fireworks in your brain.”

Jack also performs some of his poems through spoken word, which he describes as bringing poetry “across dimensions, from paper to the stage”. However, he believes it has yet to gain traction in Malaysia.

“Harold Bloom, one of America’s biggest literary critics, once said the spoken word is the death of literature. But I think as long as there are craftsmen, the art form will survive,” he said.

Asked what advice he had for aspiring young poets, Jack recommends reading a lot and curating a reading list, to help one be familiar with and understand different writing styles.

“Whatever you read will affect your craft, point of view, identity, and how you translate it into your own work,” he concluded.