National Poetry Month 2026

Erica Larsen
Apr 7
2 min read

Happy National Poetry Month! Every April I appreciate the chance to slow down, read some poetry, take part in a poetry writing challenge like Escapril, and occasionally even submit my work to literary magazines. If April also makes you want to write, I have a few suggestions for low-entry-barrier poem forms:

Blackout poetry invites its poet to take a page from an old book or newspaper and black out everything except the poem. Take a look at "Oscar Grant" by Crystal Simone Smith.
The traditional Japanese form of haiku ruminates on nature in three short, non-rhyming lines. Enjoy "The light of a candle" by Yosa Buson.
List poems are just what they sound like! A title like “Fourteen Reasons to Love the Library” can lead to lists that work great as poems. Chen Chen's "When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities" is a stellar example.
Free verse is neither rhymed nor metered, and allows a poet to work through a subject more conversationally. Check out "Space Bar" by Heather McHugh.

As a former literature major, I’ve read my fair share of poetry. Today I'd like to share some of my favorite poetry collections with you, as well as some I’m excited to read. Whether it is the classics of Frank O'Hara, Sarah Kay’s meaningful spoken word, or something completely different, I hope you find something to enjoy.