Here at Facing History & Ourselves, we believe that every day is a good day to read a poem—but since April is officially National Poetry Month in the United States, it feels like the perfect moment to highlight one of the most timeless art forms we have.
The study of American poetry often focuses on classic writers of the Western canon who you likely read in school (Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, Sylvia Plath, etc.), and many students find that even the "modern" poetic surveys they experience go no further chronologically than the likes of Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, John Ashbery, or Mary Oliver.
While these are all extremely important writers who continue to be worthy of reading for both enjoyment and rigorous academic analysis, the lack of emphasis on truly contemporary poetry does a disservice to the incredibly talented poets pushing artistic and cultural boundaries through the work they are publishing today—as well as to students, who can learn that poetry is a living, relevant art form capable of exploring the historical moment they live in. When students see themselves in the poetry they read, it helps them find another tool for self-expression, reflection, and participation.
From their poetic engagement with pop culture to powerful examinations of identity and social issues, here are just a few of our favorite contemporary poets whose work may not be in your textbooks—writers who ask us to see the world in a new light, question our preconceived notions, and reflect on the meaning of art itself. Some of these poets delve into complex and adult themes, so we urge educators to exercise their best judgment when it comes to classroom use.
Ada Limón
Mexican American poet Ada Limón is the current Poet Laureate of the United States, the first Latina to hold the position. The author of collections including The Carrying (2018) and Bright Dead Things (2015), her work explores emotional landscapes of grief, resilience, and intimacy—often shaped by her Latinx heritage. In "The Contract Says: We'd Like the Conversation to be Bilingual," she addresses the exploitation of her identity for an audience that sometimes wants tokenization instead of the truth: "When you come, bring your brown-/ness so we can be sure to please//the funders. Will you check this box; we're applying for a grant...Will you tell us the stories that make/us uncomfortable, but not complicit?" With an accessible and lyrical style that lends credence to her sharp social commentary, she holds a mirror up to her readers and creates space for both sorrow and joy in her self-discovery.
Nomi Stone
Nomi Stone is a queer Jewish poet and scholar who currently teaches at UT Dallas, the author of the collections Kill Class (2019) and Stranger's Notebook (2008). Her work explores themes of faith, belonging, and the ethics of imperialism—often using the eye of a trained anthropologist with years of fieldwork under her belt. In "Human Technology," she turns a casual conversation with a soldier into a rumination on the true meaning of patriotism and empathy: "Find common ground, the soldiers say. Humanize/yourselves. Classify the norm of who you're talking to, try//to echo it. Do this for your country, says one soldier; we/are sharks wearing suits of skin. Zip up." By juxtaposing academic thought with raw emotion and memorable imagery, Stone forces her readers to confront the human consequences of empire with tenderness and clarity.
Franny Choi
Franny Choi is a poet, essayist, and playwright who currently teaches at Bennington College in Vermont. The author of collections including The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On (2022) and Soft Science (2019), her work delves into intersections of race, culture, and expression—often using elements of science fiction and mass media to explore identity, technology, and love from the perspective of a queer Korean-American woman. In “Turing Test,” Choi reflects on her childhood and sense of self with the question of whether a computer has the ability to exhibit intelligent behavior: "i am part machine / part starfish / part citrus / part girl / part poltergeist / i rage & all you see / is broken glass / a chair sliding toward the window / now what’s so hard to believe / about that." With her bold and imaginative voice, Choi subverts expectations and offers a nuanced exploration of the modern world and self.
Hanif Abdurraqib
Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet and essayist from Ohio whose work explores themes of race, pop culture, memory and the deep connections between music, sports, and identity. The author of collections including A Fortune For Your Disaster (2019) and Vintage Sadness (2017), Abdurraqib’s poetry navigates the complexities of personal and collective histories with wry humor and a conversational tone that belies its poignant introspection. In "It Is Maybe Time to Admit That Michael Jordan Definitely Pushed Off," Abdurraqib uses the lens of an iconic basketball moment to engage with the death of his beloved mother: “there is an ocean between us the length of my arm & I have/built nothing for you that can survive it//& from here I am close enough to be seen but not close/enough to be cherished//& from here, I can see every possible ending before we/even touch.” By using casual language and vivid imagery to explore loss, love, and his personal passions, Abdurraqib’s work weaves a lyrical and intimate landscape of beauty and struggle.
Fatimah Asghar
Fatimah Asghar is a poet, novelist, and Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose debut poetry collection If They Come For Us (2018) explores themes of alienation, belonging, and her identity as a queer woman of South Asian heritage. Grappling with topics like race, religion, and gender, Asghar examines the legacy of trauma—particularly for Muslim and South Asian communities in the wake of 9/11. In the titular poem from her collection, she writes portentously of anti-Muslim persecution and the importance of community: "I can't be lost/when I see you my compass/is brown & gold & blood/my compass a muslim teenager/snapback & high-tops gracing/the subway platform/mashallah I claim them all/my country is made/in my people's image/if they come for you they/come for me too." Asghar’s poignant lyrical voice shines a light on marginalized experiences in a world too often marked by violence and displacement.
As we celebrate National Poetry Month, we urge you to find ways to bring poetry into the classroom by highlighting writers whose work can help your students make connections to their own lived experiences in 2025.
Find more poetry resources from Facing History & Ourselves below:
