April is National Poetry Month, which has grown into a worldwide celebration of poetry and its significance in society and culture. With more and more mainstream readers discovering the power of poetry, we here at Writer’s Relief have put together a list of 10 poetry collections worth reading and sharing. Whether you prefer poetry that is solemn, abstract, unexpected, lighthearted, or surprisingly moving, you’re sure to find all that and more in these wonderful collections.

Poetry Collections You’ll Want To Read 

Root Fractures by Diana Khoi Nguyen

National Book Award finalist Diana Khoi Nguyen’s collection explores the relationship between mothers and daughters across generations. Like the title suggests, the poems describe a family fractured apart, yet bound together by legacy. Nguyen pairs gorgeous, lyrical writing with heartbreaking and relatable circumstances.

What I Should’ve Texted by Pierre Alex Jeanty

A compilation of things unsaid, Pierre Alex Jeanty’s poems conjure a sense of regret over unspoken (or untyped) words. The works in this collection are both poignant and universally relevant, as the poet, known for his international bestsellers HER volumes 1-3, urges readers to face the past and their missed opportunities in order to achieve closure.

Silver by Rowan Ricardo Phillips

For dreamlike, abstract poetry, this short collection takes a deep dive into the mysteries of life. Through a variety of poetic forms, Phillips guides readers across the strange multitudes of the universe and back again. According to Phillips, his collection represents “part physics, part faith, part void.”

Come Be Cozy by Jennae Cecelia

For those who appreciate a soft blanket, a cup of hot tea, and all other things warm and cozy, this collection is for you. With a focus on self-love, Jennae Cecelia evokes both comfort and nostalgia for a soft and special journey.

The Moon That Turns You Back by Hala Alyan

Journeying between Brooklyn, Beirut, Jerusalem, and Kuwait, this poetry collection delves into diaspora and displacement at the hands of war. Alyan beautifully depicts the struggle to put down roots across generations, while tying it to the feeling of displacement within oneself. But there’s also an unbreakable thread of tenacity and hope.

You Are Here edited by Ada Limón

This anthology, edited by twenty-fourth Poet Laureate of the United States Ada Limón, turns everything we know about nature poetry on its head. While they still encompass the overwhelming beauty of the natural world, the poems embody nature’s changing landscape as well, for better or worse. From the smallest weed in a city sidewalk to the breathtaking vistas at nature preserves, this collection gives an honest view on the current state of our environment.

Good Grief by Brianna Pastor

Death is never easy, but a sense of community helps. Pastor’s poems tackle heavy topics like trauma and grief in a way that is easy to digest, yet deeply moving. They don’t shy from the painful aspects of life and death, but leave readers with the sense of “I’ll get through this” and a reminder that they’re not alone.

Beautiful Chaos by Jessica Urlichs

Motherhood is no walk in the park (even for mothers who often find themselves walking in the park with their children). Urlichs captures the splendor in everyday moments in a way that is both beautifully extraordinary and hilariously humbling. This collection is perfect for reminiscing mothers of older children, mothers in the throes of preteen or toddler terror, and even mothers still in the process of becoming mothers.

The Day’s Hard Edge by José Antonio Rodríguez

Described as “a radically open interrogation of queer Chicano identity,” Rodríguez’s upcoming collection is a critique of the deep South and of poetry itself. In the first section, readers get an insider perspective on the Texas/Mexico borderlands in relation to the self. The collection then shifts to questioning poetry as a creative form and its limitations on expressing meaning. The overall collection is an honest and vulnerable investigation on identity.

enough light by Mary Stevens

The haiku in this collection are sharply observed, finely crafted, and deeply felt. Stevens’s poems are invitations to the mindfulness of sensation, poignancy, and meaning. From the kinship between one’s own spine and the “curved shimmer” of a snake to the “heft” of a cast-iron pan, this collection invites us to experience the world in a visceral yet understated way.

Bonus Poetry Collections: For more great poetry reading, check out our WaterSedge Poetry Chapbook Contest winners! The chapbooks were judged and selected by state poet laureates and other well-respected names in poetry, so each promises a thoughtful, engaging read.

Whether you want to take the traditional publishing route or are thinking about self-publishing, Writer’s Relief can help. Give us a call, and we will point you in the right direction!

Question: Which poetry collection will you read first?