Absolute Poetry, that's art!

Poetry dates back to ancient times - some of the earliest known works of written literature, like the Epic of Gilgamesh (around 2100 BCE), were poems. The oldest known author in history was a poet - Enheduanna, a priestess who wrote hymns in ancient Sumer around 2285-2250 BCE.

Different cultures developed unique poetic forms. Japanese haiku emerged in the 17th century, while sonnets originated in 13th century Italy. The ghazal form comes from Arabic poetry traditions dating back to the 6th century.

Poetry isn't just written - many cultures have strong oral poetry traditions. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey were originally shared orally before being written down. Similarly, Norse skalds and West African griots preserved history and culture through memorized poems.

Modern poetry has evolved in fascinating ways. Free verse became popular in the early 20th century, breaking from traditional rhyme and meter. Concrete poetry uses visual arrangements of words to create meaning. Slam poetry, emerging in the 1980s, emphasizes performance and social commentary.