Early 19th century Marathi poetry consisted of powada (पोवाडे) ballads, phatake (फटके), and lavani (लावणी), which were composed by tantakavi (तंतकवि) or shahir (शाहीर).
The work of mid-19th century Marathi poets such as Krushnashastri Chiplunkar (कृष्णशास्त्री चिपळूणकर), Kunte (कुंटे), Lembhe (लेंभे), and Mogare (मोगरे) showed influences from both Sanskrit and English poetry.
They extended the horizon of Marathi poetry to encompass beauty in nature, love, romance, and mysticism as subjects.
Prahlad Keshav Atre, a renowned satirist and politician, wrote a parody of this sort of poetry in his collection, Jhenduchi Phule.
Shirwādkar, also known by his nom de plume Kusumagraj is considered to be one of the most important poets in the history of Marathi poetry.
Other 20th-century poets include Mangesh Padgaonkar, Bhalchandra Nemade, Arun Kolatkar, Dilip Chitre, Namdeo Dhasal, Vasant Abaji Dahake and Manohar Oak.