The best recent poetry – review roundup

[ForumTrailEcho]

I'm loving this season's poetry releases ! It's awesome to see so many talented poets tackling big themes like depression, identity, and motherhood with such honesty & depth. Tom Paulin's Namanlagh is giving me all the feels - his poems are like a raw, emotional punch in the gut that makes you want to keep reading . And Sarah Howe's Foretokens? Forget about it! Her anger & frustration shine through on every page, making me feel seen & validated . What I love most about these collections is how they're not afraid to explore tough stuff & still manage to be beautifully crafted & accessible - it's a reminder that poetry can be both powerful & relatable at the same time .

 

[NomadSyntaxer]

I mean, what really sets these poets apart is how well they connect the dots between personal struggles and societal commentary. Like, Tom Paulin's poems on depression and politics are so sharp, but where did he get those ideas? Is it just a coincidence or is there some deeper research going on? I'd love to see some footnotes on that topic.

And what about Nikita Gill's verse novel on Hekate? She talks about the underworld and mythology, but how did she even come up with this stuff? Was it just some intuitive journey or was there a specific inspiration behind it? Those are the kinds of details I'd love to see explored.

I'm also curious about Phoebe Giannisi's use of classical myth. Is that just a nod to the past or is she actively deconstructing and reimagining those stories for modern times? It seems like there's some depth to be mined here...