The month of March is dedicated to celebrating the women of our world, and in honor to that, I’d like to share a few inspiring women poets and their published books. I myself love dabbling in poetry, and whenever I lack inspiration I turn to these authors. In this article I will be sharing poetry books written by women that may peak your curiosity, hopefully leading you to become inspired as well.
A Selected History of Soul Speak. Written by Andrea Thompson.
This book is one I highly recommend. Andrea Thompson manages to bring the art of Spoken Word to a new light in the form of literary orature. She shines a spotlight on Black North American history and its influence, and weaves its culture and art into the foundation of her poems. Andrea Thompson is a poet and a Spoken Word artist, a very powerful one in fact. I actually had the honor of being in a Spoken Word seminar led by her, and the passion she evokes when speaking aloud can even be heard throughout her book. Even if you’ve never heard her voice before, it beams right from the pages. In her book, Thompson asks the reader: Why speak? Why write? And then she sends the reader on a delightful whirlwind, journeying through decades of time while exploring a multitude of answers.
For Thinkers and Feelers, Self Love Poetry. Written by Melody GodFred.
This book is just so creative and brilliant. Melody Godfred is a powerful advocate for women’s empowerment, which is truly shown throughout this book. The theme surrounds concepts such as loving and believing in yourself, being authentic, and being resilient. What I love about this book is the way it’s formatted and written. Each poem has two versions, one version is on the left and the other version is on the right. The left side of the book is dedicated to “thinker” poems, curated for the analytical left side of the brain. The right side of the book is dedicated to “feeler” poems, curated for the creative right side of the brain. All together the poems in this book really encourage the reader to love every part of themselves, empowering the reader’s way of seeing the world and all the hope and beauty that lies within themselves and others.
home body. Written by Rupi Kaur.
Rupi Kaur is well known for her debut collection Milk and Honey, and has since then continued sharing her heartfelt and intimate poems. Home Body was written as somewhat of a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and is described as a “reflective and intimate journey visiting the past, the present, and the potential of self” on her website: https://rupikaur.com/pages/home-body . It presents itself as different conversations with oneself that empower the reader to be open to love, change, and relationships. There are four sections: mind, heart, rest, and awake. Kaur brings refreshing concepts and ideas to the table that fill the reader with wonder.
Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately. Written by Alicia Cook.
This book satisfies all the cravings of someone yearning for poetry. The simplicity of the book itself and the power of the poems blend together into something beautiful. The book itself is designed as a mixtape, and instead of a table of contents there is a “Track List”. Now just like a cassette, the book is split into Side A and Side B. The poetry on Side A explores concepts within the human condition such as life, death, love, and everything in-between. Side B “remixes” the poems on Side A, using blackout poetry to give the poems a new meaning. To top it all off, Cook added the names of songs that gave her inspiration, creating a new depth and meaning. This unique poetry book has been enjoyed by many, as there is much comfort to be found when “listening to the tracks”.
These are just some of my favorite poetry books written by women. However, there are so many more out there that are just as impactful and empowering. All of these women authors possess a great talent in empathizing with the world. They are somehow able to convey their thoughts and feelings in such a way that your soul is touched right through the page. And I think that is just simply beautiful.
