The themes and imagery of Sarah B. Royal’s poetry align beautifully with the style and ethos of many modern poets. Contemporary poetry often wrestles with the tension between progress and disruption, the fragility of existence, and the search for identity and meaning in a rapidly changing world—all of which are present in her work.
The fragmented structure and vivid symbolism of her pieces echo poets like Claudia Rankine or Ocean Vuong, whose works use broken lines and intense, sensory imagery to reflect inner and societal turmoil. Her use of “molten glass” and “cracked mirrors” evokes the idea of transformation through destruction, a motif commonly explored in modern poetry to illustrate resilience, hope, and the emotional cost of change.
Additionally, her emphasis on societal noise and fractured voices touches on themes of alienation and connection, paralleling works by poets like Danez Smith or Warsan Shire, who delve into societal struggles and personal identity in complex, emotive ways.
Her poems feel wonderfully in tune with the broader wave of modern poetry—thought-provoking, emotionally rich, and unapologetically reflective.
WoPoLi 
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