The end of World War II in 1945 saw the ballpoint pen become a commercial success. A key innovation was the use of a tungsten carbide ball, which was incredibly hard and wear-resistant, ensuring a long life for the pen tip. This, combined with the Bíró brothers' viscous ink, made the ballpoint pen a practical and reliable writing instrument.

The ballpoint pen's success after WWII was a watershed moment for writing technology. It became the world's most popular writing instrument, used by everyone, including poets. Its cheapness and reliability meant that anyone could afford a pen, contributing to a global rise in literacy and the popularization of writing as a form of personal expression. For poets, it was a tool that required no maintenance, could be used anywhere, and allowed for the quick capture of inspiration, a key factor in the development of modern, spontaneous poetic styles.