Poetry was originally known as Turner's Point and was established in 1845. In 1876, the community was renamed Poetry. The new name was suggested by local merchant Maston Ussery, who said that the area in springtime reminded him of a poem. In 1905, Poetry's post office closed, and service was consolidated with nearby Terrell. A 1984 incorporation vote was approved by local residents, but was invalidated by the Kaufman County Commissioners Court due to technicalities. Today, Poetry is a widely dispersed, lightly populated agricultural community that successfully incorporated in November of 2020.