Largehearted Boy’s Favorite Poetry Collections of 2023

Poetry inspired me every day in 2023. Whether commuting, at work, or at home, I always had a poetry collection at my side to remind me that language is powerful, necessary, and ever-evolving.

These six collections are my favorites of 2023, the poetry books I most recommended to friends and Largehearted Boy readers (my personal definition of “favorite”).

Famous Hermits by Stacy Szymaszek

Stacy Szymaszek’s poetry collection Famous Hermits is a smart and lyrical exploration of independence, creativity, and integrity.

Gay Poems for Red States by Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.

Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.’s collection Gay Poems for Red States is a memoir-in-poems, a powerful and evocative recollection of growing up queer in Appalachia.

Have You Been Long Enough At Table by Leslie Sainz

Leslie Sainz’s Have You Been Long Enough At Table is a breathtaking collection of poems that address the Cuban American experience.

I Do Everything I’m Told by Megan Fernandes

Megan Fernandes’s I Do Everything I’m Told is a smart and ambitious exploration of desire, a striking and haunting collection of poetry.

Judas Goat by Gabrielle Bates

Gabrielle Bates’s poetry collection Judas Goat is both precise and filled with humanity. This is an auspicious debut.

We Are Mermaids by Stephanie Burt

Stephanie Burt’s poetry collection We Are Mermaids dazzles both the intellect and the heart, a brilliant collection from one of our most talented poets.

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also at Largehearted Boy:

Largehearted Boy favorite poetry collections of 2022
Largehearted Boy favorite poetry collections of 2021
Largehearted Boy favorite poetry collections of 2020
Largehearted Boy favorite poetry collections of 2018
Largehearted Boy favorite poetry collections of 2017

Largehearted Boy’s favorite nonfiction books of 2023
Largehearted Boy’s favorite story collections of 2023