In 2020, I decided to read some poetry. not the old white men I was taught in school, but the poetry of today, poetry that introduced me to new and fresh things with language. I mean, reading classics is fun and all that, but I wanted that new stuff. As a huge fan of the books, I want to support today’s writers.
At first, I had a particularly hard time finding poetry titles online that focused on poetry collections written by writers of color, gay writers, and immigrant writers. I, however, knew that those books were there, so I went hunting. I found myself looking at recent literary awards like the National Book Awards, the National Book Critics Circle Awards, and the Pulitzer Prize. but mainly i found the poetry titles i was looking for on twitter, like saeed jones, danez smith, natalie diaz, donika kelly, benjamin garcia, eduardo c. corral, and many more. And all those poets exposed me to new poets that I should be reading.
You are reading: New poetry books 2022
At shereads, we’re so excited to share this list of poetry books you should be reading and anticipating in 2022. I hope this list helps readers expand their poetry tbr, because it sure has helped me.
don’t miss these must-read poetry collections>>
Jennifer Huang’s return flight (January 18, 2022)
A debut collection, The Return Flight plays with magical realism and mythology to bring you a collection of poems that looks and feels illuminating.
constellation route by matthew olzmann (January 18, 2022)
Using the epistolary form, this book is a love song to letter writing. It sounds spectacular and totally immersive.
broken halves of a milky sun by aaiun (February 1, 2022)
nin has been compared to ocean vuong and natalie diaz, two giants in the world of poetry. this international debut from aaiun nin talks about colonialism, trauma, exile and love.
reclaim tickets for people stolen by quintin collins (February 7, 2022)
I first heard about this collection through the editor and haven’t stopped thinking about it ever since. in 2022 you can’t miss the collection of poems by quintin collins. Terrance Hayes says, “This is a wonderful book. claiming tickets for stolen people shapes our magical, mercurial world.”
one hundred lovers by richie hifmann (February 8, 2022)
one of the most acclaimed poems of this year, one hundred lovers has been receiving all the love from all corners. you just can’t miss this one. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jericho Brown says: “A book of love poems that knowingly and subversively hark back to Shakespeare’s sonnets, marking Hofmann’s position as one of our necessary poets of erotic desire.”
all flowers kneel by paul tran (Feb 15, 2022)
Tran’s most recent collection has been dubbed Visceral, Grand and Intimate. Alexander Chee says, “Paul Tran’s first collection of poems is indelible, this remarkable voice transforms as you read, and ultimately transforms you.”
john the headless baptist hitchhiking by t.s. salazar (February 18, 2022)
a queer latinx southerner, c.t salazar uses his relationship to religion and place to produce a collection of poems that sound both passionate and wonderful.
bless the daughter raised by a voice in her head by warsan shire (March 1, 2022)
Best known for her work and collaboration with Beyonce’s Lemonade and Black Is King, Warsan Shire blesses us with a collection of poems that sound as brilliant as her previous work. roxane gay says: “the beautifully crafted poems in this collection are fiercely tender gifts.”
dream of the field divided by yanyi (March 1, 2022)
yanyi’s voice sounds electric and we can’t wait to dive into this collection about home, self and body.
customs by solmaz sharif (March 1, 2022)
See Also: Everything You Need to Know About the Crazy Fantasy World of &039Carnival Row&039
This collection of poems by solmaz sharif is about American borders, policing, and a poet writing himself to freedom.
one year & other poems by jos charles (March 15, 2022)
If there’s one thing jos charles will do, it’s give us all the lyricism we need to survive. in your new collection, we look forward to that and more.
roger reeves best barbarian (March 22, 2022)
Roger Reeves is a poet who has received non-stop praise, and we are so excited to get into his new collection of poetry that has been praised by Terrance Hayes, Cathy Park Hong, Tracy K. smith and natasha trethewey.
why the assembly dissolved by roberto tejada (March 22, 2022)
Mainly dealing with the relationship between the United States and Latin America, this collection of poems introduces us to a Latinx voice that we should all listen to.
let the dead in by saida agostini (March 26, 2022)
This collection is about black femininity, love, mythologies, colonization and rarity. Teri Ellen Cross Davis says, “Each poem is a hallelujah, salve, prayer, and blessing finely wrought by a fierce poet just beginning to bless us.”
content warning: all by awaeke emezi (April 5, 2022)
Award-winning author of Freshwaterm Pet, The Death of Vivek Oji, and Beloved Senthuran, Akwaeke Emezi returns with an electrifying-sounding collection of poetry. emezi is one of our favorite writers today and we are lucky enough to be blessed with a collection of poetry from them.
against the sky of kemi alabi (April 5, 2022)
kemi alabi’s newest collection is the perfect place to start familiarizing yourself with his work. franny choi says, “with rich sounds, formal virtuosity, and rigorous queer eroticism, alabi demonstrates that every heritage can be both a wound and a portal. against heaven is an impressive debut from one of our most talented emerging voices.”
raquel salas rivera volcano before island (April 5, 2022)
This national book award nominated writer returns with a love letter to Puerto Rico. Written in Spanish and English, this collection sounds like a wonderful experience with language and its power.
time is a mother by ocean voung (April 5, 2022)
ocean voung is back with a second collection of poetry that addresses grief, loss, memory, and restoration. time says, “tender and heartbreaking. . . This collection of poems carefully considers grief, both as an emotion and as a sacred act, revisiting the story he shared with her mother and the understanding of the family they forged together.”
mausoleum of flowers of daniel b. summerhill (April 12, 2022)
A collection about black culture and love, Summerhill has poems from Kendrick to Kanye, from friendship to spirituality. this collection looks and sounds amazing. jasmine mans says, “what a blessing it is to see daniel b. summerhill renders the memory of her, in grace, in ugliness, and most importantly, in tone.
fighting is like a wife of eloisa amezcua (April 12, 2022)
amezcua’s second collection of poetry deals with the complex and violent relationship between two-time “collegiate” world boxing champion bobby chacon and his first wife, valorie ginn. Laura van den berg says, “eloisa amezcua writes about the stories of wrestler bobby chacon and his wife, valorie ginn, with surprising electricity and sensitivity, illuminating how the violent intertwining of two paths in the ring can have profound consequences for lives lived outside of the ring. of him.”
girls guide to dating by laura villareal (April 26, 2022)
Covering Mexican folklore, queerness, intergenerational trauma, Latinx identity, and healing, Villareal’s collection is something to look forward to.
the trees bear witness to everything by victoria chang (April 26, 2022)
Victoria Chang’s previous collection of obituary poems was long-listed for the 2020 National Book Awards, and now she’s back with another collection that sounds equally original and moving.
diaries of a terrorist by christopher soto (May 3, 2022)
in his debut collection, christopher soto shows vulnerability and humor to speak about some of the issues that affect the world today, from homosexuality to identity and police violence.
See Also: 10 Best Books for GRE Physics Subject Test | BrightLink Prep
ada limon’s wounded guy (May 10, 2022)
ada limon is at the top for us when it comes to poetry, and her new collection sounds impressive. if you’re a fan of poetry, this should be on your radar.
smoking the bible by chris abani (May 17, 2022)
These poems follow the story of two brothers and a man in exile; But, reader, beware: the words of this award-winning poet, Chris Abani, can shake anyone to the core.
the true story of myself as a bird by robert wrigley (June 7, 2022)
acclaimed poet robert wrigley returns with a collection of poems about planet earth and the humans who live on it.
sugar work by katie marya (June 7, 2022)
This collection of poetry explores race, gender, femininity, and violence on the female body. we need this collection today.
all the blood involved in love for maya marshall (June 28, 2022)
Tackling queer, race, family mythology, and love, this collection looks and sounds amazing, from a poet we can’t wait to discover.
or by zeina hashem beck (July 5, 2022)
In this collection, Zeina Hashem Beck explores memory, home, motherhood, and more. it’s a collection that plays with language and looks absolutely stunning. Ilya Kaminsky says, “o is so full of music and passion for life. . . Zeina Hashem Beck’s poems reveal the abundance of our world.”
civil service by claire schwartz (Aug 2, 2022)
In these poems by Schwartz, we get a deep examination of state violence and people in power. this collection looks and sounds revolutionary. Jackie Wang says, “More than a book of poems, Civil Service is a profound statement about the nature of power, written like a fable about freedom in a land without freedom.”
song of my softening by omotara james (Aug 16, 2022)
visual artist and editor, omotara james talks about his relationship with his body, black queerness and more. this collection sounds like a captivating experience.
golden ax of rio cortez (August 30, 2022)
rio cortez, new york times bestselling writer, returns with a collection of poems about afropioneering and her family’s history in the american west.
ama codjoe’s bluest nude (September 13, 2022)
codjoe’s collection is all about vulnerability and the act of being seen. these are poems that examine society’s expectations of women. ed roberson says. “ama codjoe’s writing is too eloquent not to hear.”
I live at the end of the world by saeed jones (Sep 13, 2022)
saeed jones is one of our favorite voices in current literature. his writing shakes readers to the core, which is why many have been anticipating this collection.
aldo amparan’s brother sleeps (September 13, 2022)
in amparan’s debut collection, they tackle rarity, the loss of a sibling, the us-mexico border, and more. Jericho Brown says: “Each poem is an example of a poet who has mastered his craft well enough to retrace his steps to the place where family, nation and exile meet…this is a beautiful debut”.
the study of human life by joshua bennett (September 20, 2022)
bennett’s new collection talks about several topics, such as abolition, fatherhood and black ecological consciousness. this is a poet where we always know we are going to get something special.
call it on the air by ed pavlic (Oct 11, 2022)
part memoir and part poetry, this new collection from ed pavlic sounds absolutely remarkable. acclaimed poet don mee choi says, “call it in the air” is an intimate record of the pain and turmoil within the family, the sister, and oneself… as he travels between place and memory, his dying sister, and himself himself, ed pavlić paints an intensely beautiful self-portrait.”
See Also: 11 Life-Changing Nonfiction Books For College Students (2021 guide) | BLENDtw