Inspirational feminist poems by non-binary women and poets (2023)

Inspirational poetry from some of our favorite non-binary and female poets, including Carol Ann Duffy, Maya Angelou, and Sylvia Plath.

"Portrait of Eve as Anaconda" by Safiya Sinclair

Aguardianmost anticipated book of 2020,cannibalsis the exciting debut of Safiya Sinclair. Watch Safiya perform a poem, "Portrait of Eve as the Anaconda" below, and read more about the entire collection of hers and Safiya's inspiration behind this poem in her own words here.

'cannibalsis an exploration of home, Jamaican femininity, linguistic exile, and decolonizationStormquestioning what it means to be "wild".

Audre Lorde believed that poetry is not only firmly rooted in some kind of female erotic power, but that poetry in its most basic sense is always paramount. "Portrait of Eve as Anaconda" began with a historical fact: Victorian women were prohibited from practicing botany because men thought cross sections of flowers looked too much like female genitalia; that our anatomy was considered too vulgar. She wanted this poem to inhabit vulgarity, to find beauty in it. One night, wanting to return to the paradise of my body, I began to imagine Eva's voice, or was it the serpent? He wanted to cultivate a new poetics of the tropics. A heliopoetic. Something that sounded like the carnal music of the Jamaican countryside where nothing is polished. If nature is vulgar, let us also be vulgar in this body. Let's be rude.

"To the Hill We Climb" by Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman captivated audiences around the world with her moving rendition of her inspirational poem "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of Joe Biden. Gorman is a poet and activist whose work focuses on oppression, feminism, race, and exclusion, and she was named America's first National Youth Poet in 2017, at just nineteen years old. your collection of poemsThe hill we climbed and other poemsIt will be released in September 2021.

Hotel Art, Barcelona de Rachel Long

Rachel Long is a poet and director of the Octavia Poetry Collective for Women of Color, formed in response to a lack of inclusion and representation in the world of poetry. Shortlisted for the 2014 London Young Poet Laureate, her work has appeared in The London Magazine, Magma, & Filigree: An Anthology of Contemporary Black British Poetry. Here she introduces herselfMy love of lions, and the first poem in the collection, 'Hotel Art, Barcelona'.

My love of lionsIt's a collection of poems about childhood, home, hair, sex, shame, race, class, and Barbie men in fast cars.

It's about desire and disappointment, not about what should be in the bag but about something different, something unexpected but really beautiful.

'Hotel Art, Barcelona' is the first poem in the collection because it is about a moment that is most like a climax, a state of being totally in love, holding your breath the whole time (remember that?), not me, not totally (except through this poem, poems usually know and remember things better than you do). The poem is both a memorial and a doorway to understanding yourself, both before and after, through the lens of being in love with someone else.

We ate roses on a roof. The Mediterranean below us.

Again they serve clouds, I say.

Light starter?Wink.

Are they fluffy or black?

The waiter does not answer.

All the tables are white except ours.

We sit on a bare block of wood. Ancient;

There is enough age difference here,

they must have added up to 200 years?

The razor blades arrive in a straight line.

What's going on?

We talk about children. maybe it's the wine

or why my stomach starts to clench

against the bones of my dress. You say,

I don't think I identify with a brown child.

Pardon,I'll stay,

pour your sparkling water.

(Video) Blythe Baird - Pocket-Sized Feminism

You only notice your steak.

I spin it three times in the bathroom mirror.

I decide that I will not stay like this forever.

I don't look like that now.

Dessert is air from a porcelain pump.

And if he has your eyes?I dare,

after another glass.

Back in our borrowed bathroom, I'm throwing up rose foam

A blade of grass. who saysThatnot a daughter

I'll meet you on the porch. you hold me from behind

lean in, count. 🇧🇷 🇧🇷

We have as many floors as our age difference.

Why do you always have to...

Psst.You lift up my dress, I have my legs shoulder width apart

this is not love - Grabbing a fence in the sky.

"Hope Is That Thing With Feathers" by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson spent much of her life in isolation, corresponding almost exclusively with pen pals. Although she was a prolific poet, fewer than a dozen of her poems were published during her lifetime, and it was only after her death that the breadth of her work became known. She today she is considered an important American poet. Her inspirational poem "Hope is the thing with feathers" is one of her most popular.

"Hope" is what has feathers -

What stays in the soul

And sing the melody without the words –

And it never stops - never -

And the sweetest thing - in the storm - is to listen -

And the storm must be painful -

That could embarrass the birdie.

That kept so many warm -

I heard it in the coldest land -

And in the strangest sea –

(Video) These are the best speeches on gender inequality

But never, in extreme cases,

It required a crumb—from me.

taken byShe's Wild: Poems of Brave, Courageous, and Beautiful Women

"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou

The incredibly prolific and inspiring American poet, author of seven autobiographies, actress, civil rights activist, producer, and director passed away in 2014, leaving behind a body of work that celebrates black beauty, the power of women, and the human spirit. In 2017 she celebrated her life in the documentaryMaya Angelou: And I still get up, which included interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Hilary Clinton, Quincy Jones and Maya Angelou herself. Still I Rise is an inspirational poem for women around the world.

"You can shoot me with your words,
You can cut me with your eyes
You can kill me with your hate
But still I will rise like the air.”

Read "Still I Get Up"

taken byShe's Wild: Poems of Brave, Courageous, and Beautiful Women

Hear Serena Williams reading Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" in the video below, which was recorded before Serena won the 2016 Wimbledon women's tennis final, her 22nd Grand Slam, tying Steffi Graf's all-time record.

"Disagreements" by Wendy Cope

A true national treasure, Wendy Cope's poetry is one of Britain's most accessible and beloved poets. She is perhaps best known for her sense of humor. However, her poetry contains an element of feminism and a political commitment that is often misunderstood.

"The Planet Spins"

Read 'Disagreements'

"Little Red Hood" by Carol Ann Duffy

Award-winning Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy was the first openly gay poet to be named the UK's Poet Laureate. Although her poetry often has a strong feminist bent,the woman of the worldin particular, it is classic feminist poetry in which Duffy gives voice to the wives of famous historical and fictional heroes.

"I leave the forest with my flowers, singing, alone."

Buy the woman of the world

"Beasts" by Jackie Kay

The Poetry Collection of Scotland's National Poet Jackie Kayexhibitsis the story of the search for his birth parents in Nigeria and the Highlands and an in-depth investigation of all forms of human friendship. Filled with Scottish and Igbo languages, it is also a fascinating account of the formation of self-identity.

Oh hair, it's not silver, no,
or go away for a while,
But we had a whirlwind and a bombshell girl
through the scorching winter, through the spring, through the summer.”

buy fish

"What are these times?" by Adrienne Rich

One of America's leading public intellectuals, widely read and enormously influential, Rich's career spanned seven decades. A lesbian and radical feminist, Rich has devoted her life's work to exploring the relationship between poetry and politics.

"Why do you keep listening, because at times like this
for you to hear it is necessary
to talk about trees.


Read "What times are these?"

The woman that boy became Kae Tempest

An award-winning rapper, poet, author, and playwright, Kae Tempest is known for her intense and haunting live performances. Her poetry reflects contemporary life with an incomparable voice.

"You could tell it wasn't from
the same place as the rest
Born strong.
Bastard.

buy yours

"Mathematics" by Hollie McNish

Wise, forceful, insightful, and utterly unique: Hollie McNish's poetry spans her personal experiences from childhood to motherhood and friendship to soccer, all included in her 2017 collection.plum🇧🇷 Her performances were viewed by millions on YouTube and she was considered the most important spoken word artist of her generation.

"What happens if I meet these paper requirements
That of each new thing that arrived
Take your daily wage
I want desperately to scream
Your math is stuck in elementary school.

buy plum

(Video) Watch Amanda Gorman Recite Her Empowering Poem 'We Rise' at Variety's Power of Women Event

"Progress," by Rupi Kaur

Rupi Kaur explored topics such as feminism, body image, violence, and her experience as a first-generation immigrant, and began posting her poetry and illustrations to Instagram in her early twenties. your debut collectionmilk and honeybecame a New York Times Best Seller when it was published in 2014. Rupi Kaur's new collection of poems,The sun and its flowers.It will be released in October 2017.

'our work must provide,
the next generation of women

"Progress," by Rupi Kaur

"Interview" by Dorothy Parker

Acclaimed poet, short story writer, critic, and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, Dorothy Parker's trenchant wit made her a legend, but also concealed her battle with depression. Her poetry reveals both the splendor and the darkness of decadent New York in the 1920s and 1930s.

"Admiring women's men, I heard
I would shudder at a bad word.


read interviews

"Lady Lazarus" de Sylvia Plath

Although she only published one collection of poetry in her lifetime, Sylvia Plath is one of the defining voices of 20th century poetry.

"Coming from the ashes
I wake up with my red hair
And as men like the air.

Read "Lady Lazarus"

If you're looking for more inspiration and want to dig into new poetry, check out our Book Break episode celebrating new poetry, includingshe is fiercea collection of bold, beautiful and courageous poems written by women.

Inspirational feminist poems by non-binary women and poets (1)

Collision and confrontation with Shakespeare's workStormand postcolonial identity, the poetry of Safiya SinclaircannibalsIt beautifully evokes the poet's Jamaican childhood and goes further to explore history, race relations in America, femininity, otherness, and exile.

Inspirational feminist poems by non-binary women and poets (2)

(Video) Kyun? - A Women's Day Special Poem | Simmy | The Social House Poetry | Int'l Women's Day 2021

Rachel Long is an exciting new voice in poetry, a sharp and original voice addressing important issues of sexual politics and cultural heritage. Every poem in this collection has a story to tell, from family fads, to the dangers of dating, to the dominance of religion, or sexual awakening, stories that are again emotionally insightful, politically aware, wise, funny, and outrageous.

Inspirational feminist poems by non-binary women and poets (3)

Those looking for a little inspiration should turn to this thoughtful and moving collection of poems by Ana Sampson. Divided into sections like "Friendship," "Love," and "Freedom, Awareness, and Joy," this is an uplifting collection of poetry from inspiring women. Maya Angelou, Carol Ann Duffy, Emily Dickinson, and Margaret Atwood are just a few of the contributors, and many other writers offer wisdom and challenge the patriarchy, all in the form of melodious, lyrical poetry.

Inspirational feminist poems by non-binary women and poets (4)

Jackie Kay's collection is a lyrical counterpart to her memoir,red dust trail, the extraordinary story of finding her birth parents in Nigeria and the Highlands; but it's also a moving book in its own right and an in-depth investigation of all forms of human friendship.

Inspirational feminist poems by non-binary women and poets (5)

expect, Kae Tempest's first complete pictorial collection, is an ambitious polyphonic work based on the mythical figure Tiresias. This four-part work follows him through his transformations from child, man, and woman to blind prophet; Through this structure, Tempest holds up a mirror to contemporary life in a direct and provocative way rarely associated with poetry.

Inspirational feminist poems by non-binary women and poets (6)

plum, Hollie McNish's debut for Picador Poetry, is a wise, sometimes forceful, and piercingly honest account of her memories from childhood to trying to grow up. This is a book about growing up, about meat, fruit, friendships, work and play, and about the urgent need to find a voice for poetry that will somehow do justice to all the glorious turmoil.

Inspirational feminist poems by non-binary women and poets (7)

Filled with her trademark wit, this unique collection of poetry from Poet Laureate is as much a feminist classic as it is a modern take on ancient mythology.

Behind every famous man is a great woman, and from the loquacious Mrs. Darwin to the raunchy Mrs. Carve your side story in this irresistible collection.

Photo credit Safiya Sinclair: ©Nadia Albano

Photo credit Rachel Long: ©Amaal Said

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FAQs

What are the 10 most popular poem? ›

The Ten Best Poems of All Time
  • Still I Rise by Maya Angelou.
  • Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare.
  • O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman.
  • The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe.
  • Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas.
  • i carry your heart with me by e.e. cummings.
  • Power by Audre Lorde.
  • The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost.
Apr 28, 2021

Who is the greatest female poet of all time? ›

The Top 10 Most Famous Female Poets
  1. Sappho, The Lyric Poetess.
  2. Elizabeth Barrett Browning And Romanticism.
  3. Elizabeth Bishop, The Travelling Poet.
  4. Gwendolyn Brooks, A Poetic Genius.
  5. Maya Angelou, The Heart Of Modern America.
  6. Sylvia Plath.
  7. Emily Dickinson.
  8. Rupi Kaur.
Jul 29, 2021

Why is Kamala Das called a feminist poet? ›

Women are portrayed as toys in her poems, and she expresses her own self- deprecation. The female form appears in her work as a skeletal skeleton. A woman's ideas and feelings have been effectively conveyed by Kamala Das in her portrayal of a woman's mind and emotions. Poet of love Kamala Das is the best.

Is Maya Angelou a feminist poet? ›

Maya Angelou is one of woman writers who uses feminism approach in her work. In her poems, Angelou expresses about the woman during racial discrimination, segregation, and male domination.

What are some meaningful poems? ›

10 of the Most Inspirational and Motivational Poems
  • Sir Edward Dyer, 'My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is'. ...
  • 2. Walt Whitman, 'Song of Myself'. ...
  • Emily Dickinson, '“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers'. ...
  • W. E. Henley, 'Invictus'. ...
  • Rudyard Kipling, 'If—'. ...
  • Max Ehrmann, 'Desiderata'. ...
  • Langston Hughes, 'Dreams'. ...
  • Philip Larkin, 'Coming'.
Feb 5, 2020

What is the most influential poem? ›

The 32 Most Iconic Poems in the English Language
  • William Carlos Williams, “The Red Wheelbarrow” ...
  • T. S. Eliot, “The Waste Land” ...
  • Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken” ...
  • Gwendolyn Brooks, “We Real Cool” ...
  • Elizabeth Bishop, “One Art” ...
  • Emily Dickinson, “Because I could not stop for Death –” ...
  • Langston Hughes, “Harlem”
Mar 7, 2019

Videos

1. Lily Myers - Shrinking Women
(Button Poetry)
2. Powerful poem about sexual abuse delivered by Halsey at New York Women’s March
(Guardian News)
3. "A Brown Girl's Guide to Gender" - Aranya Johar (Women's Day Special)
(UnErase Poetry)
4. Student's viral poem asks 'Why am I not good enough?'
(ABC Television Stations)
5. Gender stereotypes and education
(European Institute for Gender Equality)
6. "A Seat at the Table" Isn't the Solution for Gender Equity | Lilly Singh | TED
(TED)

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