As spring blossoms this April, so does the world of poetry. Whether you’re a seasoned poetry enthusiast or a curious newcomer, these ten recently published collections offer a diverse range of voices, themes, and emotions. Let’s dive into the poetic landscape:   “The Orange and Other Poems” by Wendy CopeWendy Cope’s wit and keen observations infuse her poems. In “The Orange,” she explores life’s bittersweet moments, inviting readers to savor the ordinary.   “Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World” by Pádraig Ó. TuamaÓ. Tuama’s anthology transcends borders. These fifty poems, a s ..read more

As we approach the end of another calendar year, December is here with a selection of noteworthy poetry releases. Close out your year with one (or all) of these 10 exciting new works, showcasing both seasoned wordsmiths and promising new voices. So, grab your favorite cozy blanket, brew a cup of something warm, and let’s dive into the poetic wonderland that December has in store.   Made of Dream by Stephanie Borges Dive into a dreamscape with this mesmerizing collection, where each verse feels like a brushstroke on the canvas of the subconscious. Crafted by Stephanie Borges, Made of Dream ..read more

“The dogwood was threatening / to swallow back the garden’s light, / so I borrowed a chainsaw and gas.” So reads the first three lines in “Black Thumb,” the opening poem in Erin Adair-Hodges’s sophomore collection, Every Form of Ruin. Through this first crucial image and action, the poem immediately places the speaker within a tense, ever-present juxtaposition that will come to define the book.    The dogwood and the garden evoke an idyllic home – one that’s in harmony with the natural world around it, almost a refuge or sanctuary. This image likely stirs up just as much envy as it d ..read more

Few things can compare to the thrill of discovering hidden literary gems among the shelves of a used bookstore. Fortunately, the internet has made this experience more accessible than ever. Online used bookstores offer a vast selection of pre-loved books, often at affordable prices. So if you’re in the market for some cheap new reads, explore these five amazing online used bookstores, each offering a unique treasure trove of literary delights.   ThriftBooks It should be no surprise that this site tops the list.ThriftBooks is a leading online used bookstore that boasts an extensive invento ..read more

As the leaves begin to change and the days grow shorter, the world of poetry welcomes a fresh wave of creativity with the release of exciting new poetry collections in September 2023. These collections promise to be a rich tapestry of emotions, perspectives, and artistic expression, offering readers a chance to explore the beauty of language and the depths of the human experience. From established poets to emerging voices, this fall brings a diverse range of poetic works that explore themes ranging from love and loss to social commentary and self-discovery. Join us on a poetic journey through ..read more

Melody Godfred, also known as the Self Love Philosopher, uses poetry to inspire, empower, and awaken her readers. Godfred’s poetry took off during the pandemic, with Oprah Magazine even referring to it as “pandemic medicine.” During that slower-paced, contemplative time, Godfred’s work—which emphasizes time in nature, personal ritual, and reflection—spoke to a wide audience of people who were suddenly reevaluating and rebuilding, much like Godfred herself.  In a previous interview with Read Poetry, Godfred described recording an audiobook version of The Shift, her second poetry collection ..read more

In a poem titled “The Yellow Bathing Suit,” which falls near the end of The Corrected Version, Rosanna Young Oh’s debut poetry collection, the speaker marvels at “yellow warblers in the window / …supreme and unperturbed.” In the next stanza, Oh watches an unspecified and intimate “you” fry eggs on the stove, close to this majestic scene yet unaware of it as they stand in the kitchen “wearing a floor-length bathrobe, / one shoulder baring a mustard-colored bra strap.” This striking, specific image illuminates a broader theme of the book, which won the Diode Editions Book Contest and hit shelves ..read more

June is for reading poolside, tucking a poetry collection into your plane carry-on, and staying up late reading beside an open window. As the weather gets warmer and your summer schedule gets busier, take some time to unwind with this season’s hottest poetry collections. Here are six we’ve been waiting for.    1. Maybe Today by SK Williams Release date: June 6   We might be heading into summer, but the latest release from SK Williams—a collaborative poetry duo that’s amassed more than 50 thousand followers on Instagram—promises to take readers on a journey through every season ..read more

When Emily E. Dalton was a sophomore at Middlebury College, she met Max—a boisterous class clown, beloved by his many straight guy friends, who recently came out as gay and was embracing his newly claimed identity. After a make-out dare on Halloween and a revelation of unexpected physical attraction that caught them both by surprise, Emily and Max found themselves in uncharted territory: in a relationship.   This is the premise of memoir-in-verse Be Straight with Me, a poetic book about love that blurs the boundaries of gender and sexuality, told from the perspective of a young, straight ..read more