If you have not heard about Nayyirah Waheed you absolutely must look her up. In the technological era in which we currently live, Waheed has made herself one of the most famous Instagram poets. Her poems are simplistic in structure but deeply moving in content. She has published two collections: salt. and Nejima.

what

massacre

happens to my son

between

him

living within my skin.

drinking my cells.

my water.

my organs.

and

his soft psyche turning cruel.

does he not remember

he 

is half woman.

—from 

Yrsa Daley-Ward is another poet you can follow on Instagram. Her most recent work, bone, has left many dazzled and stunned its riveting and emotional lyricism. Waheed described Daley-Ward's work as “a symphony of breaking and mending. she lays her hands on the pulse of the thing. and gives wide air to the epic realities of women.”

If they ask you how you are

don't say stolen. Don't say forgotten, passed over,

ignored. Don't you dare say Orphan.

Don't say beaten by the system

oppressed and disturbed

and don't you dare say disappointed

don't you dare say damaged.

Smile.

Smile with all of your teeth, even the rotting ones.

Even the rotting ones.

Warsan Shire has been awarded the inaugural Brunel University African Poetry Prize and the first Young Poet Laureate of London for her work in poetry. Shire’s poetry also appeared in Beyonce’s visual Lemonade album last year. Her book of poetry, Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth, is an absolute must-read.

later that night

i held an atlas in my lap

ran my fingers across the whole world

and whispered

where does it hurt?

it answered

everywhere

everywhere

everywhere.

Upile Chisala self-published her first work, soft magic. The book has been self-described as an exploration of “self, joy, blackness, gender, matters of the heart, the experience of the Disaspora, spirituality and most of all how we survive.” It is heartfelt. Imperative. Stunning. Necessary. Read this book.

I am dripping melanin and honey.

I am black without apology.

K.Y. Robinson’s first published work is a searing work of art. The Chaos of Longing (that title alone!) is an intimate compilation of poetry and prose. It is honest and relatable. It explores images and ideas not easily or frequently vocalized. Her poetry is beautiful and aching and raw. She is currently working on her second book, Water.

i'm half jerk chicken

and collard greens

suffocating

in this nightmare

called the american dream.

Preparing My Daughter For Rain, Key Ballah’s poetry debut, is a revelation of sorts. It acts as a letter to her future daughter—a guide for navigating the world as a black, Muslim woman. It is love almost entirely captured by words. If a picture paints a thousand words, then this collection of poems paints at least a few hundred pictures.

They destroy your country,

with their guns,

their bombs,

their drones,

their men.

And then turn around

and shame you

for trying to escape their disaster.

This. is. how. to. oppress.

Alexandra Elle is known for poetry illuminating ideas of self-love and self-care. Elle has penned multiple poetry collections including, Words of a Wanderer, Love in My Language, and most recently, Neon Soul—a collective infusion of poetry and prose. Her work is hopeful and positive, for those looking to give themselves some much needed love and comfort.

my thighs kiss each other.

the thickness is real. I used to hate that my

thighs touched and that my ass moved. I used

to hate not being 115 anymore. but this body is

a blessing. thin or thick. being a woman is a 

lesson, is a journey, is an honor.

Landan Osman poetry has been published in several notable literary magazines. She was awarded the Sillerman First Book Prize for her poetry collection, The Kitchen Dweller’s Testimony. Much of Osman’s poetry, often narrative and personal, centers on her identity as a black Somali woman and as a Muslim. Definitely check out her incredible work.

I am so poor before you. A grackle

whose colors are as good as a peacock's,

sometimes better in the full face of the sun. 

The love poem I meant to say

is lost. Instead, I swear an oath. 

I curse like someone speaking 

in a foreign language. Instead of leave

I say scourge. The proper word a chick's voice

still in its egg, a beak in a small crack.

Your blood is hot and flowing,

and the hinges of your heart's valves

allow traffic in all your heart's rooms.

Is that why the little kisses are not enough?

Ijeoma Umebinyuo has been hailed one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s greatest contemporary poets. Her work has appeared in publications such as, The Stockholm Review of Literature and The Rising Phoenix Review and has even participated in a TEDX Talk. Her first collection of poetry,Questions for Ada, aches and soothes. It is a transformative piece of art that will leave you longing for more.

He said,

"you are beautiful"

I told him

"beautiful"

is a lazy and lousy way to describe me.

Safia Elhillo has been awarded the Brunel University African Poetry Prize as well as the Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets. She has received numerous fellowships and her poetry has appeared in several journals. She has also participated in TEDXNew York. Her collection of poetry, The January Children, explores identity in relation to nationhood and how to traverse a newly postcolonial world.

I Guess By Now I Thought I'd Be Done With Shame

but I opened my coat to prove a point

and kept coming home with colds.

I thought I was done stuffing fists in my mouth to mute the sound.

Done lying about what trails my throat

had charted. I practiced looking tall 

men in the eye, spoke loudly,

pronounced every 'R.'

I chopped wood at midnight.

I left the shower and kept

singing. I sand about my body

like I was proud. I was proud.

Summer time is the perfect time to get reading. Now get in your car and drive to the nearest bookstore, and for the less actively inclined, go to Amazon and start supporting these incredibly talented poets. You will not be disappointed. If anything, you might walk away more whole–a transformed human being who understands that they need self-love, self-care and that they are not alone.