5 Contemporary Poetry Collections That You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

For the last 25 years, April has been designated as National Poetry Month, an annual celebration of the impact of poetry and poets on American culture. We know that there are so many awareness days, weeks, and months to keep track of these days, but this one is worth partaking in. Even if you simply take the time to reread your favorite poet’s anthology or search for an up-and-coming or “new to you” poet, taking the time to recognize this timeless form of the written word is well worth it.

In 1996, the Academy of American Poets launched the celebratory month to foster an appreciation for contemporary poetry, and today, it is one of the largest literary celebrations in the world. In celebration of the month, we gathered some of the best contemporary poetry collections that are well worth the read. We hope you enjoy them!

1. “All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living” by Morgan Harper Nichols

Prepare to go on the most beautiful journey as you read Morgan Harper Nichols’ poetry collection, “All Along You Were Blooming.” She breaks up the book into four sections: For the Heart (What You Feel), For the Mind (What You Think), For the Body (What You Do), For the Soul (Who You Are). The book features her original artwork and provides reminders that you are here for a purpose, to live fully in the moment, and that you are blooming right where you are meant to be.

2. “The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country” by Amanda Gorman

“The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” Amanda Gorman’s words mesmerized the world at the 2021 presidential inauguration. She became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poem at a presidential inauguration. This special gift edition includes a foreword from Oprah and is a timeless reminder of the power of poetry.

3. “Neon Soul” by Alexandra Elle

Author of “Words From A Wanderer” and “Love In My Language,” Alexandra Elle has a way of telling her story as a means of propelling readers to healing and hope. In this book of poems, Alexandra shares candidly about her experience as a young, single mother. She celebrates her triumph over adversity and encourages this same resilience in her readers.

4. “Night Sky with Exit Wounds” by Ocean Vuong

An account of the joys and sorrows of human existence, in his poetry collection debut, Ocean Vuong examines the failures and triumphs of America. He uses cadence and lyricism to paint a beautiful picture of the life’s dichotomies that are both painful and dreamlike.

5. “The Carrying: Poems” by Ada Limón

In her poetry collection, “The Carrying,” writer Ada Limón paints a picture of what it means to live fully in an imperfect world. She navigates the emergence from youth into awareness of the world’s injustices and brokenness, while offering readers courage to stand in the gap of life’s ambiguity.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash