Poetry Books I’m Reading This September: Inspiration for Writers & Creatives
- Kaecey McCormick
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
Each month, I'd like to share a few poetry books from my current stack. Thanks for checking out the first post in this series!
Sometimes I’m reading poetry books for inspiration, sometimes for craft, and sometimes simply to sit with words that move me.
Regardless, if you know me, you know I'm always reading something! And often, the books I turn to are filled with poems.
These are the titles I'm reading this month to help keep my creative well filled and remind me why I turn to poems in the first place. They are "reads-in-progress," so I'm sharing them as such rather than writing full reviews.
Without further ado, here are three poetry books I’m reading this September, each one offering its own lessons and sparks for the writing life:
(1) A debut full of light and tenderness: Bright Shade by Chelsea Harlan
Winner of the 2022 APR/Honickman First Book Prize (selected by Jericho Brown), Bright Shade is a luminous debut that captures the tension between grief and joy, solitude and connection.
So far, I'm finding that Chelsea Harlan’s poems are deeply attuned to the natural world, yet always grounded in the human heart.
This collection has reminded me how poetry can expand the everyday into something radiant, asking us to pause, notice, and feel.
(2) Poetry books that push boundaries: Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi
Akwaeke Emezi is known for their boundary-breaking fiction and memoir, and in this poetry collection, they bring the same raw, fearless energy to the page.
As I'm reading, I’m struck by how Content Warning: Everything is visceral and direct, with poems that explore survival, grief, and desire with unflinching honesty.
This book reminds me how powerful it can be when a poet refuses to look away—an important lesson for all of us who create.
(3) Rooted in place and connection: Feller: Poems by Denton Loving
Feller: Poems is the newest book by Denton Loving, a poet I was fortunate to work with as part of the MTSU Writes mentorship program. Denton is a generous mentor and an insightful poet, and this collection reflects both qualities.
Rooted in landscape and attentive to the quiet motions of the world, I'm loving how Feller explores identity, belonging, and human connection in ways that stay with you long after reading.
For me, it’s also a reminder of how meaningful it is to learn from poets who walk the talk in both life and art.
What poetry books are you reading for inspiration this month?
These are the poetry books keeping me company in September—each one a different kind of inspiration, from a luminous debut to a bold exploration of voice to the thoughtful work of a poet I admire personally.
Now I’d love to know: what poetry books are on your nightstand right now? Share in the comments or send me a note—I’m always looking for new reading inspiration.
Happy reading & writing!
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