John Ostrom discovered the fossils of Deinonychus in Montana, a relatively small but agile and intelligent theropod dinosaur with a sickle-like claw on each foot. Ostrom's analysis of Deinonychus revolutionized the view of dinosaurs, suggesting they were active, warm-blooded, and possibly bird-like, rather than slow and cold-blooded. This discovery laid the groundwork for the dinosaur renaissance that drastically changed popular and scientific perceptions of dinosaurs.

The Deinonychus discovery, which was central to the 'dinosaur renaissance,' has significantly influenced modern poetry about prehistoric life. The idea of intelligent, active, and bird-like dinosaurs has inspired poets to reconsider the inner lives of these creatures, seeing them as more dynamic and complex animals. This has moved poetry about dinosaurs away from simple depictions of monsters and toward more nuanced and biologically informed images.