April is on the horizon, and that means soft spring showers and a whole slew of new books are on the way. To help you get your April reading list going, we’ve created a list of 7 new poetry releases to look forward to this spring. Wrap yourself in meditations on the cycle of life, explorations of the self, and mantras of self-care this April with these highly anticipated new poetry books.
Birthright by George Abraham
Palestinian-American poet, author, activist, and Engineering Ph.D. candidate George Abraham introduces his debut full-length poetry collection, Birthright. Filled with strong emotions and alluring form, this collection reminds readers to be present as it unpacks generational trauma, the idea of birthright, and home. Birthright will be released on April 7 and is available for preorder now.
Deluge by Leila Chatti
Discover the debut collection of the award-winning Tunisian-American poet Leila Chatti, Deluge. In this deeply personal collection, she breaks down the idea of disease as divine punishment as she explores themes of shame, illness, grief, womanhood, faith, and the taboo. With a direct, innovative, and unflinching poetic style, Chatti shares her journey from diagnosis to remission. Deluge will be released April 21; it is available for preorder now.
Indigo by Ellen Bass
Get your hands on the latest collection from three-time Pushcart Prize-winning poet Ellen Bass. Bold, passionate, and intimate, Indigo explores the complexities of life through both micro and macro lenses. Bass misses no steps in this celebration of the little pleasures all around her, with rich and all-encompassing descriptions of subjects as simple as dogs, oysters, and high heels. At the same time, she analyzes the flow of generations past and future and documents her emotions and appreciation for the cycle of life. Indigo will be released on April 7 and is available for preorder now.
Obit by Victoria Chang
Guggenheim fellow and Pushcart Prize-winner Victoria Chang releases her fifth collection of poetry with Obit. This new collection of poems is profoundly intimate, as Chang struggles with grief after the death of her mother. The poet refuses to write elegies and turns the newspaper obituary on its head. Lyrical and powerful, Obit’s chronicling of grief becomes a testament for the living. Obit is available April 7; preorder is open now.
Prince Neptune by Cody Simpson
The debut collection of Australian poet and singer-songwriter Cody Simpson is just around the corner. Prince Neptune brings the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water together to conjure vivid imagery and soulful prose. Exploring themes of love, fame, life, and earth, Simpson’s environmentalist passion shines through. Prince Neptune will be released on April 7 and is available for preorder now.
The Malevolent Volume by Justin Phillip Reed
From American poet and essayist, Justin Phillip Reed comes one of the most highly anticipated books of 2020: The Malevolent Volume. Engaging the darkness that lurks beneath the exploited groups of marginalized people, this collection examines the horrors of contemporary film and historical fact. With deliberate, rich, and haunting language, Reed explores black identity, sexuality, violence, injustice, and the dehumanizing aspects of the dominant social order. The Malevolent Volume will be released on April 7 and is available for preorder now.
