“Well, sir, I guess there's just a meanness in this world” (Springsteen line 24). Poetry has often been used to describe a situation that has happened or could happen. A branch of poetry called Modernism rebels against traditional thinking and offers a new social agenda. Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" (1982), Linda Pastan's "Marks" (1978), and Martha Collins' "Lies" (1999) are all poems that fall within the Modernist era. An important aspect of poetry is the author's use of poetic devices. The young character in “Nebraska,” the metaphors in “Marks,” and the repetition in “Lies” are used to promote the authors' messages and discuss topics that challenge public opinion. “Nebraska” is about a man who commits a series of murders with a woman he loves for no apparent reason. Springsteen is known for his numerous concerts aimed at raising funds for hurricane victims and for having sold over one hundred and twenty albums worldwide. “Marks” is about a mother who is constantly judged by the people she loves and wants it to stop. Pastan is known for winning the Mademoiselle Poetry Prize, a Pushcart Prize, and has written over twelve books of poetry and essays. “Lies” is a stream of thought that contemplates what a lie actually is and what counts as a lie. Collins has won numerous awards and grants, along with four books of poetry. Each of these poems continues to shock readers and discuss topics that few people like to acknowledge. “Nebraska” uses a character that is best described as classic “American,” describing the voice as that of a young Midwestern male who generally seems aloof and rebellious. In the second stanza of “Nebraska,” the author clarifies the character used by writing, “From the town of Lincoln, Nebraska, with a…sawn paper medium…using several poetic devices within the poems. “Nebraska” uses a rebellious character, “Marks” uses a complex metaphor, and “Lies” consistently uses enjambement to enhance the message of each poem. Each of these poems was written around the modernist era and displays multiple characteristics of modernism, such as characters rebellious, topics that shock readers, and the adoption of new literary forms. Two of these poems have a theme that corresponds to a social issue prevalent in that era. "Nebraska" was written along with a number of other poems and songs which depicted several serial killers during the same decade. "Marks" was written when women were believed to be less capable than men, but were also expected to exceed in everything they did. Poetic devices are used in most popular poetry and they can enhance the messages and themes of the poems as was the case in these three works.