National Poetry Month: Recommended Reads

Today is April 30, and the last day of National Poetry Month.

As with any themed month, the goal is awareness and integration into your life during the other months of the year.

When it comes to poetry, people tend to have strong feelings about why they love it or hate it.

For those who love poetry, consider these seven recommendations to add to your enjoyment of this genre. For those who dislike poetry, maybe one of these books can make you dislike it a bit less.

Note: The list below is in no particular order.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo – This award-winning book written in verse centers the story of Xiomara Baptista who lives in Harlem with her twin brother, mom, and dad. This high school Dominican girl just wants to be heard. She wants to be understood, and she has so many questions about God, church, and the world. Acevedo creates a captivating story told through poems. Those poems are worth rereading and many are displayed in ways on the page to provide additional meaning. Last, if you love audiobooks, listen as you follow along. Acevedo is a poetry slam champion and reads her own audiobook.

I Am the Rage by Dr. Martina McGowan – Written a few years ago as Americans grappled with the death of George Floyd and social justice, McGowan explains through her poetry what it is like to be Black in America.

Joy is the Justice We Give Ourselves by J. Drew Lanham – Not only is the author of this book a poet, he is also a wildlife biologist. What he has learned from studying wildlife merges with his thoughts to express that joy is a thing we must seek and capture. When we do, we have given ourselves justice for all the ailments that happen in life.

The Venus Hottentot by Elizabeth Alexander – This book of poems is an intersection of history, gender, and race. The title comes from a poem in the book about the true story of an African woman who was in a cage as a carnival exhibit. Alexander doesn’t hold back as her poems prods and interrogates areas of our society.

GMorning, GNight! Little Pep Talks for Me and You by Lin-Manuel Miranda – This book is not technically a poetry book; however, author Lin-Manuel Miranda is the man behind the ever-popular musical Hamilton. Miranda naturally writes in a poetic way that brings a little rhythm, rhyme, and style to the wisdom he shares.

Harlem by Walter Dean Myers – This picture book is illustrated by Christopher Myers, who is Walter Dean Myers’ son. Through a poem that spans the book, Myers describes Harlem, the place where he grew up.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein – This book is a timeless classic. Silverstein serves as both author and illustrator. Children (and adults) love this book because of the humor Silverstein was able to incorporate in his poems.

Bonus Book!

Reflective Haiku: Poems for Growing, Healing, & Restoring the Soul by S3B – Of course, we have to include the poetry book released by our company August 2023. Across eight chapters, S3B takes readers on a journey through haiku poetry. Haiku is a Japanese poetry form that includes only three lines. The first and last lines each have 5 syllables and the second line has seven. S3B uses haiku to share thoughts about decision making, pushing through, loss, grief, and joy. Her son, James Barnes, is the illustrator.

Poetry is a diverse genre where there are so many ways poetry can be written. If one way doesn’t work, another style might be the one that is best.