Hello lovelies! I know, I know, who has time to read in the middle of prelim season? Fear not, because Fall Break is just around the corner! For anyone who wants a literary based pick-me-up, here’s a list of poetry collections that’ll give you a new appreciation for the art.
1. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur is an amazing woman, and she weaves her words in a way that really pulls you into her poetry. If you’re looking for a poetry collection that dives deep into what it means to own womanhood, Milk and Honey is the perfect pick. She performs pieces of her works as well and even gave a TED talk about her experiences and what drove her to write. And luckily for us, she came out with a new collection this October called The Sun and Her Flowers.
2. Whiskey Words and A Shovel by r.h. Sin
R.h. Sin is a very prolific Instagram poet, who originally came from New Jersey. He is the author of the collection Whiskey Words and A Shovel parts I, II, and III. His feminist poems are eye opening for many women who are struggling with love and accepting themselves, but also serve as a reminder that although many men are struggling to view women as equals, some have finally put two and two together.
3. Pansy by Andrea Gibson
Gender-queer Andrea Gibson sheds a completely new light on modern day poetry. Gibson’s poems tackle gender norms, social inequality, political awareness, LGBTQ+ issues and heartbreaking romance in Pansy.These poems are amazing, and it’s wonderful to hear the voice of an activist in this genre bringing light to modern day issues. Gibson also wrote Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns and The Madness Vase.
4. Salt by Nayyirah Waheed
Another good pick-me-up is Salt. Similar themes like feminism, self-love and self-respect are intertwined into these poems, but Waheen adds a twist that belongs solely to her and her perspective. It’s wonderfully written, so you should all give it a shot.
5. Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav
Lang Leav does really well at describing a romance that has its ups and its inevitable downfall in Love & Misadventure. It’s a story written in poems about a love that’s doomed to fail, but it’s quite easy to read and also kind of fun. She has other ones as well including The Universe of Us, Lullabies and Memories.
6. the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace
Not gonna lie, aside from Milk and Honey, which was my introduction to modern day poetry, this collection has a special place in my heart. The princess saves herself in this one is an amazing collection of poems that define Amanda Lovelace’s struggle with an abusive childhood, a fear of the opposite sex, forgiving yourself, loving yourself, letting go and allowing yourself to feel the good in life. Honestly, 10/10 recommend this one. Also, while we still have a while to go, she will be releasing her new collection in March called, the witch doesn’t burn in this one.
7. Soft Magic by Upile Chisala
I feel like a poetry collection piece would not be complete without mentioning Soft Magic. This is a collection of poems written specifically for a black audience, for the sole purpose of redefining what it means to love yourself in a society that holds European beauty standards as law. It explores blackness and femininity in ways that I didn’t think possible but that are still so important. Regardless of race, this collection is phenomenal, and I really recommend it. Upile also released another collection last year, Nectar, which I assume will be just as good if you’re interested.
A lot of these poets are on Instagram, and Amanda Lovelace has a Tumblr account, so if you can’t find the time to buy or read the books this break, you should check out these authors’ Instagram pages for bits and pieces of their work. Poetry, my fellow collegiettes, is in.