5 Poets You Need To Know
by Lucia Bailey
Poetry has made a major comeback in the last few years thanks to social media. Millenials are enjoying the art form that dates back thousands of years. Popular poets that make up some of the New York Times bestsellers list include Rupi Kaur, R.H. Sin, Amanda Lovelace, and Lang Leave. Instagram poets are a new phenomenon that are attracting young people back to poetry. The literary community has to thank these writers for presenting their poetry and reaching a wide range of people instead of just one target group. While these poets are noteworthy, they are also the most well-known, and represent a particular style of poetry. We often forget there are other remarkable poets that deserve our attention that are outside the genre Instagram poetry. If you love poetry and want to expand your repertoire, here are five poets that you should add to your library.
Kim Addonizio is a poet best known for her poem “What do Women Want?” Her Poetry is courageous and blunt; she is daring and her work will keep you wanting more. My favorites from her are her books “Tell Me” and “What is this thing Called Love.”
Billy Collins is a poet more people might be familiar with. He is extremely popular and his books can easily be found at Barnes & Noble. His poems have comical aspects to them but also have profound undertones that will stay with the reader for a while. A favorite book of poetry from him is “The Rain in Portugal.”
Lucille Clifton pieces concentrate on hardships of her life and often find a focus on Black experience. Some of her most striking poems are “Homage to My hips” and “at the cemetery, walnut grove plantation, south carolina, 1989.” I would recommend reading “The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton.”
Michael Waters won the Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, US & Canada in 2017. I’ve had him as a professor and he practices what he preaches: using (or other verb) language that grabs the reader’s attention. A favorite book I have by him is “Gospel Nights.”
Marilyn Nelson comes is known for her poetry and children’s books. Her books have been finalists for the National Book awards three times and a must read by her is “A Wreath for Emmett Till.”
Lucia Bailey | @luciarbailey