If you’re a hopeless romantic in need of some reading material this winter, then this article is for you! As an avid poetry lover, these are 3 of my favorite romantic poetry books by modern poets. Older poetry is hard to comprehend sometimes, I get it. I will include excerpts from each collection to give you an idea of the writers’ voices and hopefully inspire you to read more.
- Crush – Richard Siken
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Starting off with my absolute favorite, Crush is a short but seriously heart-wrenching collection of poems depicting the nuances of love and obsession. Siken’s queerness plays a major role in his experiences with love, and it is reflected in his confessional, distinctly gay poetry. I often read a line, shut the book, and zone out staring at the wall. Seriously, his prose is mind-blowing and brilliant. Moreover, the foreword was written by Louise Glück, so you know it’s good when you have her seal of approval. This collection is one with a permanent spot on my nightstand, in case I want to shed a tear or two before bed because, let’s be honest, you will cry reading Siken.
Excerpt from “Planet of Love”
“Imagine this:
You’re driving.
The sky’s bright. You look great.
In a word, in a phrase, it’s a movie,
you’re the star.
so smile for the camera, it’s your big scene,
you know your lines.
I’m the director. I’m in a helicopter.
I have a megaphone and you play along,
because you want to die for love,
you always have.”
- Love and Other Poems – Alex Dimitrov
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Growing up in the tri-state area, my connectoin to New York City has always been profound. In this context, Dimitrov’s poetry collection resonates with me on a very personal level, both metaphorically and literally, given that Dimitrov does speak directly to readers throughout the book. The poet expresses his love for the moon and the city, his love as a whole, and his shameless hope for the good life even amid profound loneliness. He also writes about the challenges of being a poet, navigating trope of the starving artist in a hellishly draining but breathtakingly beautiful city. I’m glad to have discovered this underrated writer, and I hope that we can offer him some more well-deserved love and recognition.
Excerpt from “Poem Written in a Cab”
“I wonder what my mother is doing
at exactly this moment.
I wonder if the L train
has ever taken anyone
where they needed to go.
When I was younger
all I wanted was to be taken seriously.
A serious poet! Why not.
Now I realize being taken seriously
is as arbitrary as how long you live.
I would gladly trade wisdom for youth.
Or beauty.”
- Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass – Lana Del Rey
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For my fans of singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, you may already be aware that she also has a book of poems that rivals her musical talents. I don’t say this without criticism of some of her poems, as they sometimes come off shallow and underdeveloped, but as a whole, I did enjoy Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass. The book is physically beautiful, featuring not only poems but also original photography on yellowed manuscript pages with typewriter font. The poems themselves contain odes to California and reflections on her lovers. The book exudes a vintage charm in aesthetics, but contain a very contemporary interpretation of love. It stands as a testament to her ability to inspire through the medium of written verse, and I think that even non-Lana fans would thoroughly enjoy her poetry.
Excerpt from “LA Who Am I to Love You?”
“LA, I’m a dreamer, but I’m from nowhere, who am I to dream?
LA, I’m upset, I have complaints, listen to me
They say I came from money and I didn’t
And I didn’t even have love, and it’s unfair
LA, I sold my life rights for a big check and I’m upset
And now I can’t sleep at night and I don’t know why
Plus, I love Zach, so why did I do that when I know it won’t last?”
I hope you’ve been inspired to pick up some poetry to fuel that lover-girl mindset! If you want more book and poetry recommendations, check out my Goodreads page here, and have a blast reading the most devastating depictions of love and passion you’ll ever encounter.