While the adjective “neoteric” dates back to the 17th century, there was a group of first-century BCE Latin poets known as “Neoterics.” These poets were modern rebels for their time: They rejected the classical styles of epic poetry (such as the works of Homer) and wrote poems full of jokes, puns, and references to (then) modern society. The best-known Neoteric poet is Catullus. Today, the word “neoteric” still means that which is new and modern, but as that concept is constantly changing, the cutting-edge poets of 2,100 years ago are largely forgotten.