Poetry Books I’m Reading This January: Inspiration for Writers & Creatives
- Kaecey McCormick
- Jan 6
- 2 min read
Happy New Year, everyone!!
I love the early days of January. The holidays are behind us, and a new year stretches out before us. I'm excited to kick off 2026 by sharing the poetry books I'm reading (or re-reading, as the case may be) this month.
I randomly picked three books off my shelf, and I'm excited to find out that they all explore transformation, clarity, and emotional honestly (albeit in decidedly different ways).
I've read two of them before (though it's been a while), and I'm happy to see that all three pull me in my deepening my attention rather than encouraging speed.
Without further ado, here are three titles from my nightstand as we begin the new year!
(1) Ledger by Jane Hirshfield
Hirshfield’s poems always leave me feeling like the world has been gently rearranged. That it's clearer, sharper, and somehow kinder.
I've read this collection before, and I can say that Ledger sits in a quiet space where observation becomes insight. Her lines look simple at first glance, but they open into questions about responsibility, compassion, and what it means to truly pay attention.
If you need a book that recenters you, this one is a grounding companion for the start of the year.
(2) Brawl & Jag by April Bernard
When I first read this collection, I thought, "This book has an edge." There's a fierce, emotional voltage running through every poem.
Bernard writes about anger, grief, humor, and vulnerability with language that’s equal parts sharp and alive.
These poems are alive with energy. They’re full of tension, bite, and surprising tenderness in the moments where the speaker softens.
I’m especially drawn to how Bernard navigates big emotions without smoothing them down.
(3) We Are Mermaids by Stephanie Burt
This collection feels like a celebration of becoming. Of girlhood, identity, reinvention, and imaginative possibility.
Burt moves between past and present with ease, weaving childhood memories, pop culture, persona poems, and queer futurity into something both tender and expansive.
One thing I love: the way the poems shift perspective, sometimes human, sometimes animal, sometimes mythic. They’re playful but deeply grounded in emotional truth.
If you’re looking for work that embraces transformation (in voice, form, or self) this is a beautiful companion for January.
Which poetry books are you reading for inspiration this month?
There you have it—the three poetry books I'm reading for inspiration to kick off 2026 with a bang.
If you have a poetry collection or two that you're planning to read in the new year, I'd love to hear about it! Share in the comments or send me a note—I’m always collecting new titles to explore. :)
Enjoy reading and writing, and Happy New Year!
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