Ambrielle Butler

Reading good poetry is crucial to writing good poetry. Here are some poets that if you don’t know — you definitely should.

Every year when my friends ask what I read during the year, they know that at least half of my list will be poetry books. As a poet myself, it is crucial to immerse myself in inspiring poetry. In addition to reading poetry from several literary magazines (some of my favorites are from Rattle’s daily poems), these are the poetry collections I would recommend to fellow poets.

• Frank: Sonnets by Diane Seuss.Seuss is a master at modern sonnets. Her work is quirky, raw, and personal; always sure to pack a punch. This collection holds nothing back making it an easy favorite.
• Selected Poems: 1950–2012 by Adrienne Rich. I am inspired by Rich for so many reasons. I find her life deeply interesting and the work she did for the feminist movement stands out in my mind. In addition to this, she was an incredible poet. Expect to spend a while reading these poems — her work often takes me several reads to really get at the deeper meaning, and the extra time invested is worth it every time.
• I Hope This Finds You Well by Kate Baer. I’ve read the entire of Baer’s collections and have enjoyed all of them, but this collection stands out as a prime example of blackout (or borrowed) poetry. This collection is crafted entirely from messages she received criticizing her work. She took these complaints and made them into something new, feminist, and deeply empowering.
• Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith. A novel-in-verse, this collection tells the story of Smith’s great-grandparents and their immigration to the United States. It is a deeply moving love story for the ages.
• Me (Moth) by Amber McBride. Another novel-in-verse, McBride’s story uses hoodoo folklore to tell a ghostly love story. Unique and brilliant, a novel I will not soon forget.
• Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda. Neruda has long been known as a master of love poetry. With compelling and unique metaphor, these romantic poems will have you swooning by the time you finish the collection.
• The Tradition by Jericho Brown.Best known for his duplexes, a poetic form invented by Brown, this raw and personal collection delves deep into the human experience. This collection is one I return to again and again.
• Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson. A collection of poetry preceded by her young adult novel on the same matter, Anderson’s collection was inspired by the #MeToo movement. Content warning for those sensitive to mention of SA.
• Prelude to Bruise by Saeed Jones. An electrifying collection of poetry filled with raw narrative about what it means to be Black and gay in America. Jones has also released a new collection of poetry this year.
• Cast Away by Naomi Shihab Nye. A collection of young adult poetry exploring humans relationship with the earth. This environmental collection highlights the things we can do better to take care of the earth.
• On the Horizon by Lois Lowry. Another young adult collection of poetry, renowned author, Lowry, writes about Pearl Harbor. Lowry’s poetry is as stunning as their novels.
• Night Sky With Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong. Vuong is an exemplary writer and a master of experimental poetic form. In this touching collection, he talks about immigration in America and sexuality.
• No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay. Kay’s book is one I recommend to beginning readers of poetry. Beautiful and easy to follow, her poems pack a punch and will stick with you long after you read them. Her spoken word poetry is also phenomenal.
• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Another beautiful collection I recommend to beginning poets. Woodson is an exemplary writer who writes across multiple genres. This poetic memoir is a stunning story of perseverance and heart.
• The Octopus Museum by Brenda Shaughnessy. Quirky and powerful, Shaughnessy’s collection is set in a far dystopian future where earth is underwater and octopus-like creatures have taken over. These unique poems promote deep environmental thinking, and elevated Shaughnessy as one of my favorite poets.

Have you read any of these poetry collections? Did I leave off any that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments. I hope this article can inspire you to make 2023 the year you add poetry to your TBR pile.