Four Fierce Poets Who Grew Up in Foster Care
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize and learn about the stories of children and families in the foster care system. Currently, an estimated 407,000 children and young adults rely on foster care, a number that’s been
5 Awe-Inspiring AAPI Poets to Read Throughout May and Beyond
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to recognize and elevate AAPI stories and accomplishments. Though Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders represent 7% of the U.S. population—with 22.4 million AAPI people calling the nation home—their
6 May 2022 Poetry Releases That Will Supercharge Your Spring Reading
Whether you’re inspired by mystical rituals, nature, or pop culture, this month’s releases hold something for everyone. Delve into emotional highs and lows with these six stand-out collections. 1. Fortunate by Kim Rashidi Release date: May 3 If you keep tarot cards alongside
My Body, My Choice: Four Outspoken Poets Writing for Reproductive Rights
Trigger Warning: This article discusses abortion, sexual violence, and rape culture. It’s been a challenging and painful several years for feminist activists. A wave of anti-abortion heartbeat bills, shuttered health clinics, a Supreme Court newly dominated by anti-choice and misogynist justices
Poetry and Music Pairings: Phoebe Bridgers Edition
From her sold-out tour to her four Grammy nominations and iconic guitar smash on Saturday Night Live, Phoebe Bridgers has amassed millions of fans. Her introspective and often haunting lyrics, as well as the existential themes underlying her work, parallel
Shops to Support on Indie Bookstore Day
Supporting amazing and unique small businesses is more popular than ever. According to the Public Affairs Pulse Survey, Americans are more likely to patronize local businesses than large corporations and associate this shopping with more positive feelings. It’s easy to
A Brief History of the Novel in Verse
Poetry is constantly evolving, becoming more diverse and wide-ranging. In fact, sometimes it refuses to be contained within one genre, leading to innovative works that blur categorization and boundaries. The novel in verse, in particular, brings together both fiction and
A Brief History of Free Verse Poetry: Free Verse Poetry from the 19th Century to Now
If you’re an avid poetry reader, chances are you’ve read a free verse collection recently. The writing style—popularized in the 19th century—has grown to become the type of poetry most commonly published today. Simply put, free verse poetry resists the
A Brief History of Lyric Poetry: Lyric Poets from Ancient Greece to Modern Day
Does your favorite poetry make you feel like singing? Do you have an appreciation for sonnets, villanelles, elegies, and other poetic forms characterized by sound play and a strong sense of emotion? Then you might be a fan of lyric
A Brief History of Spoken Word Poetry: 5 Fierce Spoken Word Poets from the Past to Present
Spoken word poetry is one of the most popular subgenres of poetry today. Channels like Button Poetry—publisher of renowned spoken word artists Neil Hilborn and Andrea Gibson—regularly garner millions of views on YouTube. Rudy Francisco performed his piece “Rifle” on
5 Poetry Collections to Read to Expand Your Perspective
One of the best aspects of reading poetry is its ability to broaden mindsets and incorporate diversity, representation, and compassion into readers’ lives. According to a recent review of 14 studies published by the American Psychological Association, reading leads to
April 2022 Poetry Releases: 6 Sensational Picks
April 2022 marks a big month for poetry, with some of the genre’s biggest contemporary names releasing new, much-anticipated collections. From Ocean Vuong and Dana Levin to Victoria Chang, this month’s spotlighted poets have won Guggenheim fellowships, Pushcart Prizes, and