As part of National Poetry Month, we were thinking about the place that poetry has in our everyday lives. Although we all lead busy lives, we also have a few spare moments during even our busiest days. Next time you find yourself with a few minutes to fill, read some poetry! See how it seasons your day, and how even committing five minutes a day to reading can have rewarding effects on your imagination. 

Here's a list of six books published by contemporary American poets that are small, lightweight, and full of great poetry for you to explore in just a matter of minutes. 

American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin (2018) by Terrance Hayes

If you're looking for short, dense poetry with incisive social commentary and serious critical acclaim, this collection of 14-line sonnets is for you. 

 

 

Shadowboxing (2017) by Joseph Rios

This book of poetry is great for people who love to read genre blenders! Rios narrates his Chicano upbringing via multiple speakers and personae, keeping the pace exciting and true to life. 

 

 

When I Grow Up I Want To Be A List of Further Possibilities (2017) by Chen Chen

Chen's debut grippingly interrogates American identity through the lens of family, Asian-American and queer identity, and immigration.

 

 

The Carrying (2018) by Ada Limon

In this highly acclaimed collection, Limon boldly expresses the visceral nature of womanhood and age, and the ties that all keep us together.

 

 

Madness (2017) by sam sax

This debut collection bursts with lyrical emotion, and the desire to be well, amid struggles with mental illness and addiction. 

 

 

 

So Much Synth (2016) by Brenda Shaughnessy

Pondering the link between adult life and adolescence? Check out Shaughnessy's retrospective that blurs the categories of maturity and immaturity as we age.

 

 

 

Looking for more poetry? Discover recommendations from the NYPL 2019 Best Poetry Books Committee, browse our catalog and visit your local branch's poetry section to stay inspired!