The article deals with the realization of substandard vocabulary in modern poetry of Kazakhstan. The research is carried out on the material of the poetic text of Rena Zhumanova, poet, publicist, member of the Union of Writers of Kazakhstan. In accordance with the tasks set, lexico-stylistic strata belonging to the substandard lexicon are identified in the text. Differentiation of lexical units is based on the system of restrictive labels of functional, expressive and social character used in lexicographic sources. As a result of the meaningful systematization of colloquial lexicon, the thematic spheres within which colloquialisms used in the author’s text are concentrated have been identified. Semantic analysis of the vernacular elements revealed the prevalence of lexemes with negative emotional-evaluative connotation. The use of the quantitative method in analyzing the sociolect vocabulary used in Zhumanova’s text has revealed the advantage of jargonisms in relation to the argot lexicon. The use of socio-cultural context in the analysis allows us to trace the correlation between the violation of literary norms and the author’s protest civic position in the text under consideration. It is established that the intertwining of different vocabulary in the poetry of R.K.Zhumanova is a significant component of the author’s style.