Poem Books to Destress from the Second Week of Classes

Faith Zochowski

Now that we’ve all completed our second week of school, syllabus week is officially in the past and quizzes, tests, projects, and papers are in our near future. If you are as stressed as me about this, I have the perfect solution for a good detox- poetry! Poetry is easy to read and really gets your mind off of whatever it is that is on your to-do list. Check out the books below to read over the weekend! Maybe find a good spot outside around campus while it’s still nice out and take some you-time. 

 

milk and honey

This one is extremely basic but rightfully so. Rupi Kaur breaks her book up into sections all pertaining to different themes, whether those be love, heartache, healing, and all of the above. The book follows the highs and lows of life, which we can all relate to. No matter what you might currently need in your life, Kaur is sure to deliver. If you are in desperate need to get your hands on a copy, you can gladly borrow mine (just ignore all the pages I’ve marked with sticky notes). 

 

Pillow Thoughts 

The next book on my list follows a similar format to milk and honey. Just looking at the book cover, you’ll notice they are almost identical. As every writer knows, though, no two poets are the same. Courtney Peppernell’s collection offers her readers sections to read to decide what they need most. Some pages consist of one sentence while others tell a short narrative. This book is a quick read and one you will struggle to put down. Good poem after good poem will cause you to read it in one sitting. This one is especially fitting if you have recently gone through a breakup or are struggling to let a longtime crush go- trust me. 

 

break your glass slippers 

Amanda Lovelace has such a beautiful collection of poetry books, and this is a perfect example of one of them. Along with her poems are simple illustrations. If you are more of a picture book person, this one’s for you. Lovelace takes a fairytale approach in telling a story, sharing how the “princess” sticks up for herself and is more than just glitz and glamor. The author also shares advice from the “fairy godmother” about the issues the princess is dealing with. The creative writing in break your glass slippers is a great option for a hammock read.