Learning to love poetry takes time and selection. I think that not every collection of poetry is for every person. Instead, I suggest sifting through books, picking them off the shelf and seeing which ones resonate within you. That's how I came to love poetry. To help others begin that journey, I've provided brief reviews and thoughts after reading through these recently published poetry collections by Hispanic or Latino poets.
Note: I also refer to them authors as writing poetry is hard work, not some secondary endeavor.
Tarta Americana by J. Michael Martinez, who grew up in Greeley, Colorado. The title means American Pie and is a reference to the song by Don McLean. If you love the movie La Bamba, you may feel as though you are in a mind meld with these poems. Using the rock and roll star Ritchie Valens as a symbol, Martinez explores the current reality and complexities of the United States of America. Each verse is a tapestry of cultural references mixed with political currents, and so they're the kind of poems that come alive when you spend time with them.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo is a wonderful reminder that young adult books are for anyone and everyone. This is an immersive, unforgettable story in verse about a teenage girl who falls in love with slam poetry and finds it coming directly in conflict with her Catholic confirmation classes. This is also available as an audio book.
Woman Without Shame (Mujer Sin Vergüenza) by Sandra Cisneros. I quickly fell in love with these poems. The words are effervescent, bubbling to life off the page, and evoke moments in the author's life with technicolor clarity. There are snippets in Spanish that are fully worth translating so that you too can bask in the word-play. Cisneros celebrates being a woman in her later decades, both looking back and accepting her imperfect (yet amazing) self. Arapahoe Libraries also has the original version in Spanish.
Homeland of My Body: New & Selected Poems by Richard Blanco. This is a beautiful collection of poetry, clearly showing the author's range of skills, from narrative storytelling to deep introspection with stark word choice. I see this as a book with poems that may speak to anyone and everyone, which is a rare treat. I hope more people will pick up this collection and be transported to Cuba by his imagery.
Lessons on Expulsion by Erika L. Sánchez. The author was born in the Chicago to undocumented Mexican immigrants, and this book of poems, she gives voice to the gritty, darkness of her journey into adulthood. Most striking is the author's ability to build images with unexpected word choice. This poetry may not be for everyone as there are regular references to sex and use of profanity.
Promises of Gold (Promesas de oro) by José Olivarez. Heartwarming and accessible are two words that perfectly describe this collection, which is also available as an audiobook. In the Author's Note, Olivarez explains that the book came about when he sought to write love poems for his "homies" in the midst of a global pandemic that exposed many other problems in our current world. The world needs more love, and the author allows us to plunge deep into his love for so many people in his life.
Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry by John Murillo. The poetry in this collection reads like magic, conjured by the author's word choice, narrative voice and subject matter that stays in one's heart long after reading. His poems contemplate the legacy of violence both individual and systematic again Blacks and Latinos and what that has done to the people who face that danger and difficulty on a daily basis.
The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón. The wonder of this book is how the author weaves her questions and struggles into her observations of the world and nature around her. She has a unique way of using metaphor and point of view to understand how nature stands apart from our daily experiences. This is one of the more accessible books of poetry.
Cosmic Soul (Alma Cósmica) by Carmelita T. Jaramilo is dual language, in both English and Spanish. This is a small and mighty book of poetry, as the author draws her inspiration from the Clyfford Still's exhibit Awful Bigness, opens a new window which was on display at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, Colorado in 2023. The poems cover a variety of subjects from the cosmos to the dessert, and each one paints an expansive picture.
The Complete Poems. Bilingual Edition (Poesía reunida) by J.M. Patraca is dual language, in both English and Spanish; rather than being presented side-by-side, this book has an entire section being presented in Spanish first, and then in English. Many of Patraca's poems are character studies, creating a portrait in words of a single person or a group. For example, he speaks of his friends, mother grandmother, mentors such as Che Guevera and even the humble janitor. In reading this book of poetry, I had the sense of being given a warm hug and then reminded that there is still much to be done in our world.
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