Before influencers peddled skincare routines and dance challenges, poets shaped culture and won hearts. Shakespeare was basically the king of subtweets, Rumi, the OG self-help guru, and Emily Dickinson? A master of ghosting before it was cool. These literary legends were the original trendsetters, and if they had Instagram today, they’d dominate your feed.
The Case for Poets as Influencers
Shakespeare: The Subtweet King
Ever read a Shakespearean sonnet? It’s basically an 18-line thirst trap. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” is the 16th-century equivalent of “Feeling cute, might delete later.” His plays were the hot content of the Elizabethan era, drawing crowds bigger than a Taylor Swift concert.
Rumi: The Self-Help Guru
Rumi’s quotes are all over Pinterest boards for a reason. “You were born with wings; why prefer to crawl through life?” sounds like something you’d find under a yoga influencer’s Instagram caption. Rumi’s wisdom spanned centuries, proving his relevance even in today’s motivational meme culture.
Emily Dickinson: The Introvert Icon
Dickinson didn’t go out much, but she wrote over 1,800 poems. Imagine her as a TikTok creator, dropping haikus about mental health and the beauty of solitude. Her “content” proves you don’t need to leave your house to make an impact.
What If They Posted Today?
- Shakespeare would create romantic Instagram Reels, complete with slow-motion sunsets.
- Rumi would have a daily advice column on LinkedIn.
- Dickinson would make cryptic tweets that go viral overnight.
The next time you double-tap a #selfcare post or share a poetic meme, remember: poets were doing it first. They just didn’t have Wi-Fi.
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