One of the characteristics that often comes through in Southern writing and Southern poetry is Southern history. Most cultures are defined in large part by their history, and the southern United States is no different in this respect. The South, unlike the Northeast, was settled not by Puritans attempting to found a theocracy, but by a mix of different peoples and cultures. Agrarian ideals, slavery and military defeat were all big parts of Southern history and influence Southern poets.
Another characteristic often used to identify Southern poetry is the use of a particular dialect often associated with the Southern United States. In particular, the Southern dialect is often associated with substandard grammar. The speech of Southern characters is often tinged in this way to give the writing a more Southern feel. More generally, dialect is often used to identify a poem or book with a particular region, and is a common characteristic of the writing of a given region.
Another of the characteristics of the work of Southern poets is a focus on religion and faith. Christianity is the dominant religion of the Southern United States. More specifically, it is the Protestant denominations, such as Baptist, that are most common in the region. The teachings of the Bible, and more generally Christianity, are motifs that are often featured in Southern poetry.
Family and tradition are two more themes that are often found in the works of Southern poets. In contrast to the northeastern Puritan individualism, Southern identity is much more heavily associated with the family and the larger community. This focus on the family, the community and the traditions rooted in those groups are often featured prominently in Southern poetry.