I’ve been slowly getting back more into poetry reading.

Somehow, as a poetry writer who’s published quite a few poems despite being on the younger side of things (and I don’t have an MFA), one of my toxic traits is that I don’t read a lot of poetry. My main genres of literature tend to be fiction, plays, and nonfiction, but I have a tendency to look for the musicality in these kinds of readings.

I never really believed in genre unless it played into the conventions of the kind of story needing to be told (i.e. some things would suite a stage play in its execution more than a poem), so that led to a quite unorthodox way of approaching my craft as a writer.

So in 2023, I decided to take a step and read more poetry. My priority will always be BIPOC and world literature in translation, so I read quite a few collections in this medium.

I did stop trying to buy more books this year as well though, and requested that my local library system buy a few specific titles that I can read for free. I love to support authors, but I’m trying to cut down on the rampant consumerism that’s happening in my life and around me. It’s a process.

With that intro aside, let’s talk about some of my favorite poetry reads of the year so far.

Phantom Pain Wings by Kim Hye-soon, translated by Don Mee Choi

I absolutely adore Kim Hye-soon’’s work and legacy as a feminist poet in South Korea, and Autobiography of Death is one of my most treasured poetry collections in my book stack. So when I was at a bookstore in Park Slope, when I happened to be in Brooklyn purchasing a copy of Sally Wen Mao’s collection that had released the day before, I saw that Don Mee Choi had a new translations of Kim’s work titled Phantom Pain Wings.

I bought it immediately. Kim, like many of her other poems, is unafraid to shy away from the darker side of one’s existence and what it takes to survive in this world, especially as a woman. I devoured this collection throughout my trip to New York.

The Kingdom of Surfaces by Sally Wen Mao

As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I purchased this collection with the Kim Hye-soon one. I also supported a local community bookstore in the process! I was supposed to see Sally live for a launch of this book when I arrived in New York, but was too tired to do so that day and ended up not going despite having booked a ticket.

That’s why I went out and purchased the book the next day. Anyways, I adore Sally’s work as well. When I first read her Anna May Wong poems, I fell completely and utterly in love. I feel this book takes on a more mature tone as a writer for her, and while I did not enjoy it as much as Oculus (a holy grail staple for me), I still liked it a lot. Many images and lines stuck with me, that’s for sure.

Diaries of a Terrorist by Christopher Soto

This is one of those books I stumbled upon when at the library’s new poetry section (which is incredibly small for my local branch, which is why I was surprised I found this here). The title is was grabbed me in immediately, but as I flipped through the book, I though the writing by Soto was absolutely brilliant.

Lots of rage and grief packed into this slim collection of poems, and as soon as I finished it, I ended up putting it on my to buy list to keep a physical copy in my collection. It can be a little rough at times, but very much an enjoyable read as a cohesive collection.

Unexpected Vanilla by Lee Hye-mi, translated by Soje

I first saw Lee Hye-mi’s work translated in Words Without Borders, and that’s what ended up getting me to special order a copy of her translated works straight from England (where this collection was published) to my home here in Maryland. Yes, I paid the shipping to get this collection, that’s how much I wanted it. Anyways, I ended up savoring this one over the course of weeks instead of sitting down with it.

Lee’s work is very visceral and she especially does an interesting series of work when it comes to feminine and LGBTQ+ themes—coming from a country that has traditionally rejected both of these notions. I can see how this book people wouldn’t like, though.

Farewell, My Lovelies by Diann Blakely

One day I went to my local Savers and in the classics section of the books, I was pleasantly surprised to see that someone must’ve unloaded their entire poetry collection in one go. For context, this Savers typically doesn’t have a lot of poetry, and I don’t know people in this area who actually read poems.

Regardless, I cleaned up shop that day and one of my favorite collections to come out of this haul was Farewell, My Lovelies. I had never heard of Blakey or their work before this crash course introduction, but now I’m a fan. As someone who channels dark feminine energy in my own work, that’s what I found lurking in Blakely’s poems.

Despite coming out a hot minute ago, I found these pieces to be quite contemporary as well.

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