Literature has a wide variety of forms; several styles branch off from the basic form. Poetry is definitely one of those styles, allowing an author to more freely express themselves using a different rhythm and cadence. With poetry also comes strong female poets adding their voices to the genre.
Female Poets
Women have played a crucial part in the history of poetry. Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, and Elizabeth Browning were only a few of the greatest poets who have ever lived, women who contributed to the type of diversity that makes poetry so famous. Their beliefs, struggles, ideas, and lives echo through their written masterpieces. Here are 5 female poets you should discover.
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5. Amanda Gorman
Female poets like Amanda Gorman have cemented women’s place in history. She became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver her piece at president Joe Biden’s inauguration. Her fantastic work The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country captured the hearts of many.
She once again stunned the world when she wrote Call Us What We Carry, a remarkable poem brimming with stunning form and themes. The brevity of its content digs into the troubles of United States, with a hopeful tone.
4. Morgan Harper Nichols
An Instagram famous female poet makes it on our list! Morgan Harper Nichols is a mixed-media artist who’s written poetry including Forty Days on Being a Five, How Far You Have Come, and All Along You Were Blooming.
Morgan’s art integrates with her other works, adding continuity to her pieces. Aside from the celebration of hope and freedom, her poetry weaves her own personal thoughts and solemnity.
Among her works, All Along You Were Blooming is what most caught my attention. The book contains lengthy verses that are worth reading and reflecting upon. It centers upon a love letter written for the readers’ mind, heart, soul, and body. It also emphasizes the need to understand that everything happens for a reason, and that every challenge brings us closer to where we really need to be.
3. Nikita Gill
Nikita Gill is one of my favorite female poets of all time. This British-Indian poet transitioned from being an Instagram celebrity to a worldwide bestselling author. She pens her poetry in receipts, which turned into blog posts, Instagram posts, and finally to print. She describes herself as openly vulnerable, explaining that it would be difficult not to write from experience.
Gill has written several poetry books that every poetry lover needs to pick up. Her collections are not only rich in culture but also full of female empowerment. One of my personal favourites is The Girl and the Goddess: Stories and Poems of Divine Wisdom, where she takes familiar Indian Mythology, and gives them a twist.
2. Juleah del Rosario
Librarian by day and author by night – that is how Juleah del Rosario spends her day surrounded by books. Her love for both turtles and literature intersect in her latest young adult fiction called Turtle Under Ice. I remember being exceptionally emotional and attached to this story of doubt and grief.
Her poetry tells the narrative of two cultures of Chamorro and Filipino. She provides various perspectives of characters who struggle with making decisions, and how they manage their lives and the tough situations.
1. Elizabeth Acevedo
I stumbled upon The Poet X in the beginning of the pandemic. I finished it incredibly quickly and fell in love instantly to the imagery and depth of her words. It’s no wonder that the book was a National Book Awardee for Young People’s Literature and a New York Times bestseller.
Elizabeth Acevedo is an Afro-Dominican National Poetry Slam Champion from Washington, DC. She’s written two novels written in verse entitled The Poet X and Clap When You Land. Her writing style uses free verse and repetition to emphasize raw emotions.
Her poetry can also be seen on social media sites like YouTube performed by herself in front of an audience. Hearing her own voice reciting her pieces really bring out the best of her ability as a writer and as a performer.
There is not one standard form to tell a story. Poetry has given these female poets an outlet to create these inspirational works of art. The importance of female narratives in our society shapes and will continue to shape generations to come.
