April is National Poetry Month. Through this month we have been running our Blackout Poetry Contest. Today is the last day to submit an entry to potentially win the gift that keeps on giving – a $25 Wawa gift card.

I don’t know about you, but the promise of a Wawa run has gotten me through a number of rough finals seasons, term papers, and waiting on final grades. Something else that I find relaxing is reading poetry. Here are some of my favorite poets, and ebooks of their collections, so you can destress from wherever.

Ada Limón

As of 2022, Ada Limón is the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States of America. She is the first Latina woman to be appointed to the position. Her work is emotionally sincere, and conjures stunning visuals.

The Carrying

Bright Dead Things

Lucille Clifton

I first became aware of Lucille Clifton through her poem ‘homage to my hips‘. You may already know ‘won’t you celebrate with me‘. While she was alive, Clifton was a contemporary of Langston Hughes. A judge of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize referred to Clifton’s work as having a “looming humaneness” and a “moral quality that some poets have and some don’t”.

The Collected Poems Of Lucille Clifton

Blessing The Boats

Someone maybe less well known

I haven’t read much more from these poets besides these collections, but I remember them after all this time. When you read as much poetry as I do, that’s an endorsement.

Lizzie Borden in Love by Julianna Baggott

All American Girl by Robin Becker

Tortillera by Caridad Moro-Groniler