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The Feminist Know-It-All: You know her. You can’t stand her. Good thing she’s not here! Instead, this column by gender and women’s studies librarian Karla Strand will amplify stories of the creation, access, use and preservation of knowledge by women and girls around the world; share innovative projects and initiatives that focus on information, literacies, libraries and more; and, of course, talk about all of the books.
Each month, I provide Ms. readers with a list of new books being published by writers from historically excluded groups. The aims of these lists are threefold:
- I want to do my part in the disruption of what has been the acceptable “norm” in the book world for far too long—white, cis, heterosexual, male;
- I want to amplify indie publishers and amazing works by writers who are women, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, APIA/AAPI, international, queer, trans, nonbinary, disabled, fat, immigrant, Muslim, neurodivergent, sex-positive or of other historically marginalized identities—you know, the rest of us; and
- I want to challenge and encourage you all to buy, borrow and read them!
Happy April, and Happy National Poetry Month. Since my dormant love of poetry was reignited, I’ve found it so refreshing and inspiring to read beautiful collections each year and share them with you.
Below are some of the most exciting and extraordinary poetry titles I’ve read in the last year.
In 2021, I tried something a bit different with the poetry list: Instead of the usual blurb, I focused my thoughts about each collection into three words. Readers responded so well to it that I decided to keep doing it. Sometimes the words are nouns, sometimes verbs, sometimes adjectives—and I may have just made up some words too. The words I choose are always inspired by the collection and are often directly taken from it. Sometimes I try to be clever, other times straightforward and you can tell I love my alliteration. Since I find it challenging to be succinct, this is a valuable exercise in imagination, reflection and, well, restraint.
Speaking of restraint … I have to seriously think about which titles to include on this list. Many fantastic collections are being released, but unfortunately, I couldn’t include them all. I’ve included the 73 below mostly because I loved them, but also for a variety of other reasons: They meet my criteria (above), they are especially unique, I wanted to shine a light on them, they are from debut authors, indie publishers, or they stood out to me for any other reason. The currently available titles are presented first in alphabetical order; forthcoming titles are then listed by on-sale date.
So I hope you enjoy and find some collections below that will have you reflecting on how poetry moves you, challenges you and represents you.
By Nat Raha. Nightboat Books. Out now.
Conceive, experiment, (re)forge.
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Edited by Alan Chazaro, Malcolm Friend and Kim Sousa. Deep Vellum. Out now.
Heirloom, sanctuary, congregation.
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By Jennifer Chang. Copper Canyon Press. Out now.
Stillness, gaze, truth.
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By Catherine Weiss. Game Over Books. Out now.
Taut, gasping, molten.
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By Alison C. Rollins. Copper Canyon Press. Out now.
Messenger, silence, witness.
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By Yael Valencia Aldana. University Press of Kentucky. Out now.
Talisman, redwood, thread.
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By Danusha Laméris. Copper Canyon Press. Out now.
(R)egret, elegy, starsight.
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Written by Julia Wong Kcomt. Translated by Jennifer Shyue. Phoneme Media. Out now.
Torrent, rhapsody, poemario.
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By Emily Hockaday. Small Harbor Publishing. Out now.
Relic, offering, incantation.
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By jaye simpson (Oji-Cree-Saulteaux). Arsenal Pulp Press. Out now.
Flesh, fray, refuge.
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By Smokii Sumac (Ktunaxa). Roseway Publishing. Out now.
Prayers, solace, seeds.
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By Amber Dawn. Arsenal Pulp Press. Out now.
Ripened, enamelled, divine.
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Written by Natalia Toledo. Translated by Clare Sullivan. Phoneme Media. Out now.
Portrait, precipice, daybreak.
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Two Lines Press. Out now.
Unmovable, rooted, fragile.
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By Esther Lin. Alice James Books. Out now.
Confession, myth, document.
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Written by Wendy Barker. Edited by Steven G. Kellman. Louisiana State University Press. Out now.
I, we, us.
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By Oliver Baez Bendorf. Nightboat Books. Out now.
Timber, encounter, expansion.
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By Sarah Lyn Rogers. Curbstone Books. Out now.
Gift, ignite, bite.
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By Brittany Rogers. Tin House Books. Out now.
Flex, devour, belong.
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By Diannely Antigua. Copper Canyon Press. Out now.
Synapse, revelation, recompense.
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By Kyo Lee. Arsenal Pulp Press. Out now.
Will, wildness, tenderness.
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By Dorsía Smith Silva. CavanKerry Press. Out now.
Innocence, awakening, return.
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By Dawn Lundy Martin. Nightboat Books. Out now.
Fusion, soaked, shining.
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By Felicia Zamora. University of Wisconsin Press. Out now.
Cells, fluid, possibility.
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By Noelia Cerna. Black Lawrence Press. Out now.
Sanctuary, sugar, flicker.
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By Stephanie Choi. University Of Iowa Press. Out now.
Needle, key, pen.
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By Tara M. Stringfellow. Dial Press. Out now.
Lavender, cinnamon, ferocious.
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Written by Li Qingzhao. Translated by Wendy Chen. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Out now.
Evocative, immersive, timeless.
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By Faylita Hicks. Haymarket Books. Out now.
Journey, alchemy, self.
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By Aditi Machado. Nightboat Books. Out now.
Blazing, balm, being.
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Written by Conceição Lima. Translated by Shook. Phoneme Media. Out now.
Motherland, metamorphosis, redemption.
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By Ruth Awad. Third Man Books. Out now.
Forgiveness, freckles, wonder.
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By Mónica de la Torre. Nightboat Books. Out now.
Voice, shadow, body.
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By Tramaine Suubi. Amistad. Out now.
Waxing, waning, wanting.
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By MacKenzie Polonyi. Akashic Books, Ltd. Out now.
Inheritance, lamentation, regeneration.
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By Mai Der Vang. Graywolf Press. Out now.
Invitation, captivity, saola.
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By Dorothy Chan. Deep Vellum. Out now.
Rambunctious, hungry, decadent.
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By Emily Bludworth De Barrios. University of Wisconsin Press. Out now.
Goddess, gaze, awakening.
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By Megan Pinto. Four Way Books. Out now.
Daydreaming, unfolding, falling.
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By Hedgie Choi. University of Wisconsin Press. Out now.
Liminality, listening, survival.
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By Roya Marsh. MCD. Out now.
Tender, emancipatory, loud AF.
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Scorched Earth: Poems
By Tiana Clark. Washington Square Press. Out now.
Craving, (w)itness, unknowing.
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Something Missing from This World: Contemporary Yazidi Poetry
Edited by Zêdan Xelef, Bryar Bajalan, Alana Marie Levinson-LaBrosse and Shook. Phoneme Media. Out now.
River, wind, word.
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By Mia S. Willis. Penguin Books. Out now.
Chosen, conjurer, (boi)sterous.
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By Niki Herd. Copper Canyon Press. Out now.
Consume, breathe, undrown.
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By Rebecca Lehmann. University of Pittsburgh Press. Out now.
Straits, villanelles, Anne Boleyn.
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Written by Tove Ditlevsen. Translated by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russell. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Out now.
Grief, (in)dependence, departure.
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By Danielle Legros Georges. Beacon Press. Out now.
Because, crossings, reclamation.
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By Heid E. Erdrich (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe). Trio House Press. Out now.
Relate, collaborate, agitate.
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By Caroline M. Mar. University of Wisconsin Press. Out now.
Inheritance, correspondence, resonance.
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Edited by Franny Choi, Bao Phi, Noʻu Revilla (ʻŌiwi) and Terisa Siagatonu. Haymarket Books. Out now.
Active, alive, reborn.
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By Therí Alyce Pickens. Duke University Press. Out now.
Thunder, balm, whole.
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Written by Hannah Arendt. Translated and edited by Samantha Rose Hill and Genese Grill. Liveright. Out now.
Record, (re)collect, reflect.
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By Kayleb Rae Candrilli. Copper Canyon Press. Out now.
Rural, nostalgic, clawing.
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By Cathy Linh Che. Washington Square Press. Out Apr. 29.
Verdant, guttural, still.
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By jzl jmz. Nightboat Books. Out Apr. 29.
Lush, nourishing, celestial.
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By Rosie Stockton. Nightboat Books. Out May 6.
Summons, velocity, plurality.
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By Alana Marie Levinson-Labrosse. Unnamed Press. Out May 13.
Bindings, upheavals, revelations.
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Edited by George Abraham and Noor Hindi. Haymarket Books. Out May 13.
Witness, withness, love.
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By Mia Ayumi Malhotra. Alice James Books. Out May 13.
Begin, benediction, begin again.
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By Crystal Simone Smith. Duke University Press. Out May 13.
Haunting, haiku, (self-)liberation.
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By July Westhale. Black Lawrence Press. Out May 20.
Genesis, volta, echo.
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By aja monet. Haymarket Books. Out Jun. 3.
Alive, considered, eternal.
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By Diana Arterian. Curbstone Books. Out Jun. 15.
Patriarchy, agency, fury.
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By Marissa Davis. Penguin. Out Jul. 1.
Epiphany, source, ascension.
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By Michael M. Weinstein. Alice James Books. Out Aug. 5.
Exist, pause, release.
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By Michele Battiste. Black Lawrence Press. Out Aug. 12.
Ceremony, almanac, archive.
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By Taylor Byas. Soft Skull. Out Aug. 26.
Aperture, empathy, evidence.
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By Barbara Fant. Amistad/Moore Black Press. Out Sept. 2.
Fight, light, flight.
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By Billy-Ray Belcourt (Driftpile Cree Nation). Beacon Press. Out Sept. 9.
Autofiction, confession, utopia.
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By Achy Obejas. Beacon Press. Out Sept. 16.
Flicker, crossroads, wisdom.
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By Betsy Fagin. Autumn House Press. Out Oct. 25.
Elevation, acceleration, presence.
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By Ally Ang. Alice James Books. Out Nov. 11.
Open-mouthed fruit feast.
Great Job Karla J. Strand & the Team @ Ms. Magazine Source link for sharing this story.
