There is an endless ocean of fantastic poetry books, collections, and chapbooks available for our perusal. With that endless ocean comes a tide of inspiration that any poet can benefit from, whether it’s inspiration through form or theme or content. I’ve admittedly only just begun to wet my feet, so instead of recommending poetry books I herald as the best of the best or my absolute favorite, I thought it would be apt to just list the last few I’ve read and what I love about them. Coincidentally, they all deal with themes of pollution, the environment, and the deeper connections between our identities and the world around us—which feels like appropriate inspiration as we approach the turn from winter to spring.
Evergreen | Oliver Baez-Bendorf
Oliver Baez-Bendorf uses Evergreen to explore his identity, mental health, and queerness with unique, moving poems that take a variety of forms, including a wonderful set of abecedarian pieces. He uses language that has such a fascinating mouth-feel and sonic quality, their viscera meshing with his poignant, natural imagery in a way that’s just right. Check it out if you’re interested in that exploration of self and the external world in one package, then I can’t recommend Evergreen enough.
Alphabet | Inger Christensen
Alphabet is possibly the most internationally famous work of Danish poetry. Beautifully translated by Susanna Nied, Alphabet embraces a form based on the Fibonacci Sequence in its structure, each section building in length and complexity as Christensen lays out the brutally frank reality of human impact on the earth. Over the course of its fourteen sections (covering letters of the alphabet A through N), Alphabet does not fail to escalate or engage. Alphabet is not a collection of poems, but a book-length one, and any aspiring or established poet can find a wealth of inspiration from Christensen and Nied.
Blood Snow | dg nanouk okpik
dg nanouk okpik’s second full-length poetry book is nothing short of pure art. Throughout the collection, she tackles her relationship with the environment, her heritage, her adoption, and the grim reality of the human effect on our world. Her language is rich, her presence on the page unrivalled and unforgettable. If you were a fan of her first book, Corpse Whale, you’ll love Blood Snow. The stark image the title of the book evokes wonderfully informs the text and does not disappoint.
Hopefully these books serve as engaging reads, if not hearty inspiration. Happy reading and happy writing!