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Poetry Is Not a Luxury: Poems for All Seasons
From the creator of the beloved @PoetryIsNotaLuxury Instagram account, a gorgeously wrought poetry anthology that is a gift and a guide for readers through every season of life.
Inspired by writer and philosopher Audre Lorde’s famous “Poetry is not a luxury,” this anthology proves the vitality of poetry as a crucial source of inspiration, comfort, and delight.
In a first section, “Summer,” you’ll find lush landscapes and love poems for weddings and anniversaries, alongside poems on travel, protest, and expressions of sheer joy and exhilaration. “Autumn” ushers in nostalgic poems about home and family and friendship, fall leaves, nesting and gratitude. You may turn to “Winter” should you require a poem for mourning, some lyrics for loneliness, or an ode to comfort. Rounding out a year’s worth of verse is “Spring,” in which you’ll discover celebratory poems, in the form of praise for rain and flowers, new beginnings, and all that the future might hold.
Each poem within has been chosen from centuries of verse from around the world, with an emphasis on living poets. Friends old and new await, with selections from Rita Dove, Victoria Chang, Ross Gay, Naomi Shihab Nye, C.D. Wright, Eileen Myles, Ada Limón, Ross Gay, Ilya Kaminsky, Jos Charles, and more.
From love poems to elegies, from the heights of new love to the furrows of anxiety, from special occasions to a morning pick-me-up, there is something here for longtime poetry lovers and novices, in any season of need.
Inspired by writer and philosopher Audre Lorde’s famous “Poetry is not a luxury,” this anthology proves the vitality of poetry as a crucial source of inspiration, comfort, and delight.
In a first section, “Summer,” you’ll find lush landscapes and love poems for weddings and anniversaries, alongside poems on travel, protest, and expressions of sheer joy and exhilaration. “Autumn” ushers in nostalgic poems about home and family and friendship, fall leaves, nesting and gratitude. You may turn to “Winter” should you require a poem for mourning, some lyrics for loneliness, or an ode to comfort. Rounding out a year’s worth of verse is “Spring,” in which you’ll discover celebratory poems, in the form of praise for rain and flowers, new beginnings, and all that the future might hold.
Each poem within has been chosen from centuries of verse from around the world, with an emphasis on living poets. Friends old and new await, with selections from Rita Dove, Victoria Chang, Ross Gay, Naomi Shihab Nye, C.D. Wright, Eileen Myles, Ada Limón, Ross Gay, Ilya Kaminsky, Jos Charles, and more.
From love poems to elegies, from the heights of new love to the furrows of anxiety, from special occasions to a morning pick-me-up, there is something here for longtime poetry lovers and novices, in any season of need.
176 pages, Hardcover
Published May 6, 2025
81 people are currently reading
3130 people want to read
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
October 1, 2025
As might be expected with any poetry anthology, some of the pieces included here speak to me more than others. These are all short, modern poems (you won’t find any old war horses here) mostly by authors unknown to me, though I came across a few familiar names and even one poem that I’d read elsewhere (but was glad to meet up with again).
It was an adventure to turn the page, to encounter a new poet, to hear their voice, and to witness whatever part of the human experience they chose to explore.
A few favorites:
—“To a Daughter Leaving Home”, Linda Pastan
—“Fall Song”, Joy Harjo
—“Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Is Not Breaking”, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
—“A Cedary Fragrance” Jane Hirshfield
A pleasure to browse through a bit each night. It always left me something to reflect on about life or poetry or other people’s ways of looking at the world.
One phrase in particular that I will carry with me as I dabble in future poetry writing myself or as I look at the poems or artworks of others comes from another favorite in this collection, Sophie Klahr’s “Tender”:
“…a sonnet is a little song
to hold a thing that otherwise cannot
be held…”
It was an adventure to turn the page, to encounter a new poet, to hear their voice, and to witness whatever part of the human experience they chose to explore.
A few favorites:
—“To a Daughter Leaving Home”, Linda Pastan
—“Fall Song”, Joy Harjo
—“Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Is Not Breaking”, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
—“A Cedary Fragrance” Jane Hirshfield
A pleasure to browse through a bit each night. It always left me something to reflect on about life or poetry or other people’s ways of looking at the world.
One phrase in particular that I will carry with me as I dabble in future poetry writing myself or as I look at the poems or artworks of others comes from another favorite in this collection, Sophie Klahr’s “Tender”:
“…a sonnet is a little song
to hold a thing that otherwise cannot
be held…”
July 15, 2025
This is such a lovely collection of poems grouped into seasons. Some, like the nature poems, contain clear imagery linking them to fall, winter, spring, or summer. Others seem to have been categorized largely based on vibes, and it totally works. This collection includes classic poems as well as some by more contemporary poets. For me, it was a great introduction to some poets I wasn’t already familiar with. I couldn’t resist reading it all in one go, but I think it would be so cute to read each season’s poems in that season.
I didn’t know about the @poetryisnotaluxury Instagram account before this, but I will definitely be following them now. The person behind it clearly has a great eye for curation.
I didn’t know about the @poetryisnotaluxury Instagram account before this, but I will definitely be following them now. The person behind it clearly has a great eye for curation.
April 18, 2025
5 ⭐️
As a huge poetry fan, I’ve admittedly grown somewhat tired of collections lately. But this was different! This revived my love for poetry and sparked my brain into remembering just how impactful someone’s words can be on your life.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Publishing for this eARC
Quick synopsis: A collection of poetry by numerous authors thoughtfully organized into the four seasons. Flipping through this will take you on what will feel like a year long journey of emotions, reflections and inspirations.
💗 What I loved:
- The variation. While some collections get repetitive, I found that if you simply flip to a different season you’ll find a completely different vibe. (Pro-tip: flip to a season that fits your mood)
- The dedication. Please when you read this book, take a second to inhale that dedication.
- I don’t want to be shallow but that COVER? This it’s such a beautiful looking book that you almost can’t not want it. It’s initially what drew me in.
- This made me want to go out and discover more about all the authors that were credited (especially the ones I really loved). So this was door opening.
Overall, if you’re eyeing a poetry collection, I would recommend this one!
As a huge poetry fan, I’ve admittedly grown somewhat tired of collections lately. But this was different! This revived my love for poetry and sparked my brain into remembering just how impactful someone’s words can be on your life.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Publishing for this eARC
Quick synopsis: A collection of poetry by numerous authors thoughtfully organized into the four seasons. Flipping through this will take you on what will feel like a year long journey of emotions, reflections and inspirations.
💗 What I loved:
- The variation. While some collections get repetitive, I found that if you simply flip to a different season you’ll find a completely different vibe. (Pro-tip: flip to a season that fits your mood)
- The dedication. Please when you read this book, take a second to inhale that dedication.
- I don’t want to be shallow but that COVER? This it’s such a beautiful looking book that you almost can’t not want it. It’s initially what drew me in.
- This made me want to go out and discover more about all the authors that were credited (especially the ones I really loved). So this was door opening.
Overall, if you’re eyeing a poetry collection, I would recommend this one!
April 13, 2025
This is a nicely-curated collection of poetry with many poets that I had never read before. Structured into seasons, each poem does carry those sensory experiences that fit their season.
However, reading all of these so close together is definitely not the way to read this collection, because so many of them just weren't standing out. I'm already not a big fan of poems that feel like just a thought or two chopped into shorter sentences, sometimes with funky layout, and there's many of them in here. Maybe three or four poems really stood out to me, spoke to a truth that made me finally, properly connect.
Still, I liked this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an arc in return for my honest review.
However, reading all of these so close together is definitely not the way to read this collection, because so many of them just weren't standing out. I'm already not a big fan of poems that feel like just a thought or two chopped into shorter sentences, sometimes with funky layout, and there's many of them in here. Maybe three or four poems really stood out to me, spoke to a truth that made me finally, properly connect.
Still, I liked this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an arc in return for my honest review.
May 8, 2025
Incredibly grateful to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley.
“We can read us. We are not alone.” - Brenda Shaughnessy, ‘Miracles’
A poetry anthology we all need to help us see ourselves, others and the world around us as we move through the seasons of the year and life. I have followed @poetryisnotaluxury for quite some time and am so thrilled that they have released this collection of poems from voices here and gone. Complied with such care and with honor to the Audre Lorde aphorism, it contains many familiar poems and poets, and also features many newer voices and works. Such a wonderful variety of verse!
“We can read us. We are not alone.” - Brenda Shaughnessy, ‘Miracles’
A poetry anthology we all need to help us see ourselves, others and the world around us as we move through the seasons of the year and life. I have followed @poetryisnotaluxury for quite some time and am so thrilled that they have released this collection of poems from voices here and gone. Complied with such care and with honor to the Audre Lorde aphorism, it contains many familiar poems and poets, and also features many newer voices and works. Such a wonderful variety of verse!
March 22, 2025
Thank you Atria for the gifted copy!!
I’m reviewing this more in advance. I’ve already started the spring poems and want to stick to reading them within each season, so for now my review is only within the spring portion and I will update it as I go!
Spring:
Exactly what I needed right now. I loved just about each poem and found a way to connect to them. I decided to write little journal entries for the ones that really speak to me and why I connected with them. Something I can look back on or maybe even add to in a year. But, I really enjoy these and love the concept of keeping them to each season.
I’m reviewing this more in advance. I’ve already started the spring poems and want to stick to reading them within each season, so for now my review is only within the spring portion and I will update it as I go!
Spring:
Exactly what I needed right now. I loved just about each poem and found a way to connect to them. I decided to write little journal entries for the ones that really speak to me and why I connected with them. Something I can look back on or maybe even add to in a year. But, I really enjoy these and love the concept of keeping them to each season.
April 2, 2025
This was a beautiful collection and I'm thrilled I've now found so many people to look into reading more of now.
May 6, 2025
i'm probably aging myself here, but i love when an anthology feels like a mixtape. nothing quite tops the feeling of someone really seeing you and caring enough to curate an experience that will make you smile, create a warm ball of light in your chest, and remind you that you're not alone. this book is all that and more.
i've never been a fan of "instagram poetry," which is to say that i'm not into those super short, super generic platitudes that just so happen to have line breaks (and also happen to make a TON of money). but i also get it — poetry isn't often taught in a way that inspires or welcomes students. a lot of what you see in schools is written by long-dead white guys. meanwhile, there's an entire world of poetry that is skillful, gorgeous, evocative, fun, heartbreaking, and comforting that is being written by living poets that tons of people don't often discover. this anthology is a perfect collection of approachable poems that display a love for living poets while still honoring those who came before.
i was so pleased to see one of my absolute favorite poems ("to the woman crying uncontrollably in the next stall" by kim addonizio) in these pages. but all of these are favorite poems. there's too many to choose from. this collection is for everybody — for those new to poetry, it serves of the perfect introductory course. those more seasoned aficionados, it feels like coming home.
eternal thanks to atria books for the digital and physical copies of this book in exchange for an honest review.
i've never been a fan of "instagram poetry," which is to say that i'm not into those super short, super generic platitudes that just so happen to have line breaks (and also happen to make a TON of money). but i also get it — poetry isn't often taught in a way that inspires or welcomes students. a lot of what you see in schools is written by long-dead white guys. meanwhile, there's an entire world of poetry that is skillful, gorgeous, evocative, fun, heartbreaking, and comforting that is being written by living poets that tons of people don't often discover. this anthology is a perfect collection of approachable poems that display a love for living poets while still honoring those who came before.
i was so pleased to see one of my absolute favorite poems ("to the woman crying uncontrollably in the next stall" by kim addonizio) in these pages. but all of these are favorite poems. there's too many to choose from. this collection is for everybody — for those new to poetry, it serves of the perfect introductory course. those more seasoned aficionados, it feels like coming home.
eternal thanks to atria books for the digital and physical copies of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2025
A huge thanks to Washington Square Press and Goodreads for the opportunity to win a physical copy of Poetry is Not a Luxury in a giveaway. This is an absolutely gorgeous book and excellent quality, full of lovely poems that can be read year-long. This book would make an excellent gift for a poetry or literature fan in your life. I was familiar with some of the poems, and some were new and welcome finds. The variety of poets included and poetry selected are a huge strength of this collection. You'll most likely find many poems you'll resonate with inside. I am obsessed with hardcovers without dust covers that are printed beautifully like this one!
May 17, 2025
Summer felt like that breath of fresh, warm air. A heart to heart. Seeing myself in others, feeling like those authors, those poets, saw me through their eyes and the hands that wrote. My favorites in the season of summer include: Cento for the Night I Said “I Love You” by Nicole Sealey; Tired Of Love Poems by Megan Fernandes; Think of Others by Mahmoud Darwish; and Phases of the Moon / Things I Have Done by Ella Frears.
Autumn felt like that cool whisper of a breeze bringing that beginning before winter, that cardinal shift of the seasons. A child born of autumn myself, I felt at home in these. The autumn poems that spoke to me: Against Nostalgia by Ada Limón; The Wind Did What the Wind Came to Do by Luther Hughes; I love you to the moon & by Chen Chen; and [We Mention the Cat] by CAConrad.
Winter, a season of short days, of less light. Winter holds me steady like the grief and the love and the loss depicted in these poems. So many hit me in the home of my heart, in a way that hurt, a hurt that belongs to humanity. If I didn’t feel that pain and grief, then would I be human? Those that especially spoke to me include: There You Are by Victoria Adukwei Bulley; Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Is Not Breaking by Rosemerry Wahtola Trimmer; Author’s Prayer by Ilya Kaminsky; The Years by Alex Dimitrov; and Maybe in Another Life by Tiana Clark.
Spring was that accumulation of all that came before, that fresh air, the whispered breeze, and the grief and love and loss that came from those prior seasons. It almost hurt when I came to the last poem. It shocked me to my core; suddenly, this anthology was over. The summer poems that spoke to me especially were: [I want to wake up] by Bhanu Kapil; I Am the Horse by Dorothea Lasky; Truth is I would like to escape myself by Nour Al Ghraowi; and No Romance by Jacqueline Suskin.
I felt this collection was well-organized, the poems collected under each season fitting an overarching theme within the seasons as well as an overarching theme existing between them: that there is love and beauty to be found even in a broken, aching world, such as the one we are in. Poetry like this holds our hearts steady amidst such grief.
Big big thanks to the publisher, Atria Books, through NetGalley for providing the e-ARC for me to read. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have read such beautiful work.
Autumn felt like that cool whisper of a breeze bringing that beginning before winter, that cardinal shift of the seasons. A child born of autumn myself, I felt at home in these. The autumn poems that spoke to me: Against Nostalgia by Ada Limón; The Wind Did What the Wind Came to Do by Luther Hughes; I love you to the moon & by Chen Chen; and [We Mention the Cat] by CAConrad.
Winter, a season of short days, of less light. Winter holds me steady like the grief and the love and the loss depicted in these poems. So many hit me in the home of my heart, in a way that hurt, a hurt that belongs to humanity. If I didn’t feel that pain and grief, then would I be human? Those that especially spoke to me include: There You Are by Victoria Adukwei Bulley; Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Is Not Breaking by Rosemerry Wahtola Trimmer; Author’s Prayer by Ilya Kaminsky; The Years by Alex Dimitrov; and Maybe in Another Life by Tiana Clark.
Spring was that accumulation of all that came before, that fresh air, the whispered breeze, and the grief and love and loss that came from those prior seasons. It almost hurt when I came to the last poem. It shocked me to my core; suddenly, this anthology was over. The summer poems that spoke to me especially were: [I want to wake up] by Bhanu Kapil; I Am the Horse by Dorothea Lasky; Truth is I would like to escape myself by Nour Al Ghraowi; and No Romance by Jacqueline Suskin.
I felt this collection was well-organized, the poems collected under each season fitting an overarching theme within the seasons as well as an overarching theme existing between them: that there is love and beauty to be found even in a broken, aching world, such as the one we are in. Poetry like this holds our hearts steady amidst such grief.
Big big thanks to the publisher, Atria Books, through NetGalley for providing the e-ARC for me to read. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have read such beautiful work.
April 18, 2025
What a joy it is to be alive! from 1997 by Joe Wenderoth
One thing I love about social media are the people who share poetry, nourishing me daily. The Poetry is Not a Luxury Instagrammer has collected poems in a slender volume, presented by season, making a perfect gift.
One Heart
Li-Young Lee
Look at the birds. Even flying
is born
out of nothing. The first sky
is inside you, open
at either end of day.
The work of wings
was always freedom, fastening
one heart to every falling thing.
The selections by modern and contemporary poets are marvelous. Most are short, but have a big impact.
Ode to Hunger
Zenia Hashem Beck
How I crave the strawberries
we bought on a road
in Cyprus the day we got married.
Their scent was divine & we forgot
to eat them.
The poetry is about life and experience and the world, They enlighten us, make us feel seen, give us hope.
What is now will soon be past
Yrsa Daley-Ward
Just because you do it
dosen’t mean you always will.
Whether you’re dancing dust
or breaking light
you’re never exactly the same,
twice.
They are about loss, grief, and remembrance. Love of mothers, daughters, lovers. The beauty and joy of being alive.
What Came to Me
Jane Kenyon
I took the last
dusty piece of china
out of the barrel.
It was your gravy boat,
with a hard, brown
drop of gravy still
on the porcelain lip.
I grieved for you then
as I never had before.
No, poetry is not a luxury; it is like air and water to our body, sustaining our inner life.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
One thing I love about social media are the people who share poetry, nourishing me daily. The Poetry is Not a Luxury Instagrammer has collected poems in a slender volume, presented by season, making a perfect gift.
One Heart
Li-Young Lee
Look at the birds. Even flying
is born
out of nothing. The first sky
is inside you, open
at either end of day.
The work of wings
was always freedom, fastening
one heart to every falling thing.
The selections by modern and contemporary poets are marvelous. Most are short, but have a big impact.
Ode to Hunger
Zenia Hashem Beck
How I crave the strawberries
we bought on a road
in Cyprus the day we got married.
Their scent was divine & we forgot
to eat them.
The poetry is about life and experience and the world, They enlighten us, make us feel seen, give us hope.
What is now will soon be past
Yrsa Daley-Ward
Just because you do it
dosen’t mean you always will.
Whether you’re dancing dust
or breaking light
you’re never exactly the same,
twice.
They are about loss, grief, and remembrance. Love of mothers, daughters, lovers. The beauty and joy of being alive.
What Came to Me
Jane Kenyon
I took the last
dusty piece of china
out of the barrel.
It was your gravy boat,
with a hard, brown
drop of gravy still
on the porcelain lip.
I grieved for you then
as I never had before.
No, poetry is not a luxury; it is like air and water to our body, sustaining our inner life.
Thanks to the publisher for a free book.
May 6, 2025
ARC Review: Poetry is Not A Luxury
Publication: May 6, 2025
Thank you to @atriabooks for this beautiful eARC.
Poetry Is Not A Luxury is such a beautiful collection of poems. I immediately had to dive into them upon receiving Netgalley approval. And it did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved that the poems were categorized by seasons. A certain season immediately calls certain feelings and imagery to mind so it perfectly sets the tone for the collection as you read. I think this will be something I continually go back to and read a poem or two when I am in my feelings.
This anthology introduced me to poets unknown to me which I appreciated but interspersed with poets I did know like Audre Lorde and Langston Hughes. I think this would be great to take a poem a day in each of the seasons. Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. For some reason, people are daunted by poetry. Maybe they worry it is complicated or hard to decipher true meaning. For me, poetry invokes a physical response because it calls to me in such a way I can almost feel my soul physically stirring. It makes my skin prickle; my eyes well with unshed tears, and can make my stomach ache with poignant longing. How incredibly is it that words on a page can invoke such feeling in us, the readers? Reading Poetry is Not A Luxury was like being reignited with an old friend. This anthology is put together in such a way, that it is easy to pick up the right poem when a certain mood strikes you.
Publication: May 6, 2025
Thank you to @atriabooks for this beautiful eARC.
Poetry Is Not A Luxury is such a beautiful collection of poems. I immediately had to dive into them upon receiving Netgalley approval. And it did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved that the poems were categorized by seasons. A certain season immediately calls certain feelings and imagery to mind so it perfectly sets the tone for the collection as you read. I think this will be something I continually go back to and read a poem or two when I am in my feelings.
This anthology introduced me to poets unknown to me which I appreciated but interspersed with poets I did know like Audre Lorde and Langston Hughes. I think this would be great to take a poem a day in each of the seasons. Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. For some reason, people are daunted by poetry. Maybe they worry it is complicated or hard to decipher true meaning. For me, poetry invokes a physical response because it calls to me in such a way I can almost feel my soul physically stirring. It makes my skin prickle; my eyes well with unshed tears, and can make my stomach ache with poignant longing. How incredibly is it that words on a page can invoke such feeling in us, the readers? Reading Poetry is Not A Luxury was like being reignited with an old friend. This anthology is put together in such a way, that it is easy to pick up the right poem when a certain mood strikes you.
May 6, 2025
This is perfection. It has earned a permanent spot on my nightstand. The @poetryisnotaluxury anthology does exactly what poetry is meant to do—it illuminates a sliver of the human experience in a way that lodges it right in your heart and memory.
The poems are arranged by season, which I found poignant (and which will guide me as I continue to pick this book and reread all these poems that twisted my gut and/or made my heart thump). The poems are so well-chosen—they are accessible for beginners to poetry, but still have depth and elegant language that will give readers the chance to wrestle with some of the poems.
One of the things I love about anthologies is the way they lead me to add collection after collection to my TBR. I have been exposed to quite a few new poets through this book, and I am looking forward to diving into the backlists.
POETRY IS NOT A LUXURY is the perfect primer for new and seasoned poetry enthusiasts. Even my seven-year-old daughter started reading over my shoulder, savoring the words. She didn’t want me to put the book down. Don’t sleep on this one.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The poems are arranged by season, which I found poignant (and which will guide me as I continue to pick this book and reread all these poems that twisted my gut and/or made my heart thump). The poems are so well-chosen—they are accessible for beginners to poetry, but still have depth and elegant language that will give readers the chance to wrestle with some of the poems.
One of the things I love about anthologies is the way they lead me to add collection after collection to my TBR. I have been exposed to quite a few new poets through this book, and I am looking forward to diving into the backlists.
POETRY IS NOT A LUXURY is the perfect primer for new and seasoned poetry enthusiasts. Even my seven-year-old daughter started reading over my shoulder, savoring the words. She didn’t want me to put the book down. Don’t sleep on this one.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2025
3.5 stars for me - solid little collection!
I’m not a huge fan of contemporary poetry anthologies (and especially wary of ones edited/curated by Instagram accounts) but the poems in this anthology are mostly good/great, and overall make for a diverse and enjoyable read. The poems that fall flat keep this from being rated higher for me, but I appreciate being exposed to some new voices, and pleasantly surprised to see some faves - overall, definitely worth picking up if you’re interested in anthologies, and one of the better ones I’ve seen published recently.
I’m not a huge fan of contemporary poetry anthologies (and especially wary of ones edited/curated by Instagram accounts) but the poems in this anthology are mostly good/great, and overall make for a diverse and enjoyable read. The poems that fall flat keep this from being rated higher for me, but I appreciate being exposed to some new voices, and pleasantly surprised to see some faves - overall, definitely worth picking up if you’re interested in anthologies, and one of the better ones I’ve seen published recently.
May 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my arc. These are all my own opinions.
I really enjoyed this anthology! The theme of having poems for every season was a great choice because it created an overarching through line for each section. There's such a wide variety of poets whose work is featured in this; some were favorites of mine and others were new to me. I think this is a collection I will return to in the future because each section will provide something different. This was perfectly curated, and I'd happily read another volume.
I really enjoyed this anthology! The theme of having poems for every season was a great choice because it created an overarching through line for each section. There's such a wide variety of poets whose work is featured in this; some were favorites of mine and others were new to me. I think this is a collection I will return to in the future because each section will provide something different. This was perfectly curated, and I'd happily read another volume.
October 12, 2025
My soul needed this and I’m not sure I even knew my soul was missing something. Like life, some days/poems are monotonous, others uneventful but nevertheless the fulfilling, some are pure delight, and many leave us wondering if there is a point. The journey was wonderful. I took it slow and I was grateful for this amazing companion for a couple months. The sharing of beautiful insights and feelings from poetry is really a great experience and then sharing a poem or a line of poetry with others is an intimate way to connect.
Kind of a blathering, ponderous review….
I just loved it.
Kind of a blathering, ponderous review….
I just loved it.
November 13, 2025
Possibly the best anthology I’ve read. Intended to read one poem a night but because they’re all so good I’ve been reading a few at a time. So many beautiful, tender, thoughtful poems in here, from a mix of classic and contemporary poets.
‘My body a lens
I can look through with my mind’
(Ama Codjoe p9)
‘If I had known, would I have still made mistake
After mistake until I had only the trunk of me
Left, striped and nearly bare of leaves myself?’
(Ada Limon, p38)
‘And that song, the one hooked
In my ear like an heirloom loop, nears
The verse that always obliterates me
Back into innocence’
(Saeed Jones, p53)
‘My body a lens
I can look through with my mind’
(Ama Codjoe p9)
‘If I had known, would I have still made mistake
After mistake until I had only the trunk of me
Left, striped and nearly bare of leaves myself?’
(Ada Limon, p38)
‘And that song, the one hooked
In my ear like an heirloom loop, nears
The verse that always obliterates me
Back into innocence’
(Saeed Jones, p53)
May 7, 2025
I initially didn’t know how this would translate from the Instagram page to book format but, I shouldn’t have worried! The result worked out well and this was an enjoyable read!
Super thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the opportunity to review this unique book! :)
Super thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the opportunity to review this unique book! :)
July 26, 2025
This is a really solid anthology of short poems (which I prefer) that pack a lot of power and beauty into their few lines. It's also a very attractive little book and would make a great gift. And hallelujah, there's a blessed lack of abstruse shape poems.
January 5, 2026
It’s rare for me to buy a poetry collection but this book is beautiful and finely curated. I like the arrangement by seasons, and I think this is a great selection and an excellent primer of modern and contemporary poetry, poets, and the use and meaning of poetry in our lives.
May 1, 2025
I had a sense this was going to be well put together but it exceeded my expectations.
It's not unusual for poetry collections to be arranged by seasons— of course, this is an anthology. Perhaps that is what makes all the difference?
The organization is skillful and the transition from poem to poem reads with intention and added meaning by association.
It's not unusual for poetry collections to be arranged by seasons— of course, this is an anthology. Perhaps that is what makes all the difference?
The organization is skillful and the transition from poem to poem reads with intention and added meaning by association.
May 6, 2025
If you dont follow @poetryisnotaluxury...i dont know what you're doing. You definitely should.
This anthology was separated by season, which i really liked because sometimes i get whiplash between styles when i read collected works rather than single authors. Well crafted and touching, i really enjoyed this collection.
Thanks, netgalley and atria for this eArc!
This anthology was separated by season, which i really liked because sometimes i get whiplash between styles when i read collected works rather than single authors. Well crafted and touching, i really enjoyed this collection.
Thanks, netgalley and atria for this eArc!
May 31, 2025
"If we're not supposed to dance/Why all this music?" - Gregory Orr
Poetry is Not a Luxury is an album for the seasons, a compilation of poems to turn through over a year or (as I did) in a few cool nights with the window open. While this anthology isn't groundbreaking, it was soft and reflective, meant to be savored. The title is a bit misleading—I expected it to be harsher and more desperate—but the intent, I believe, is for these poems to become part of daily life. Some shone more than others, particularly "Phases of the Moon/Things I Have Done" by Ella Frears, "Idea" by Kate Baer, and "On Friendship" by Henri Cole. Overall, though, the strength of this collection is that it speaks to a broad audience, and anyone could keep this beautiful title by their bedside to carry them through the rhythms of life.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Washington Square Press for this eARC!
Poetry is Not a Luxury is an album for the seasons, a compilation of poems to turn through over a year or (as I did) in a few cool nights with the window open. While this anthology isn't groundbreaking, it was soft and reflective, meant to be savored. The title is a bit misleading—I expected it to be harsher and more desperate—but the intent, I believe, is for these poems to become part of daily life. Some shone more than others, particularly "Phases of the Moon/Things I Have Done" by Ella Frears, "Idea" by Kate Baer, and "On Friendship" by Henri Cole. Overall, though, the strength of this collection is that it speaks to a broad audience, and anyone could keep this beautiful title by their bedside to carry them through the rhythms of life.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Washington Square Press for this eARC!
May 27, 2025
Pre-ordered myself this book, read it superrr slowly, and marked up all the pages. As a treat. ❤️
August 1, 2025
SO GOOD. If you’re getting into poetry or obsessed with poetry, IT IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO START IMO.
September 13, 2025
Love some poems, some maybe less — overall a decent collection and I think a fun gift for someone new to poetry to find a potential favorite new poet of their own.
May 6, 2025
A gorgeous anthology of poems curated by the anonymous Instagram page Poetry Is Not A Luxury. A thoroughly delicious read, capturing the very essence of the mundane and beauty of the human experience.
Poetry captures the feelings we can’t quite put into words, and this collection of poems does it so eloquently and effortlessly. I felt seen reading so many of these poems and for that reason it has my heart. I enjoyed the seasonal flow of how the poems were arranged, which felt poetic in itself.
If you love poetry, this is a must!
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Poetry captures the feelings we can’t quite put into words, and this collection of poems does it so eloquently and effortlessly. I felt seen reading so many of these poems and for that reason it has my heart. I enjoyed the seasonal flow of how the poems were arranged, which felt poetic in itself.
If you love poetry, this is a must!
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 22, 2025
Truly loved this book, it made me fall in love in poetry even more than before. So excited to read more poems by others. This book consists of a poetry collections with diverse poems and poets that display the beauty of poetry.
April 17, 2025
3.5
To preface: obviously, poetry is a subjective art form and my opinions don’t necessarily reflect the objective quality of these poems.
I find poetry anthologies to often be a mixed bag. Sometimes I hate them and sometimes I am like “this is pure genius!”. In this anthology in particular, not all of the poems were my cup of tea, but I did have a couple favorites from each section.
Summer
- Idea by Kate Baer
- Ode to Hunger by Zeina Hashem Beck
- Pattern by Garous Abdolmaleiken
- 43 by Coste Lewis
- To the Women Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall by Kim Addonizio
Autumn
- Why Did It by William J. Harris
Winter
- Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Is Not Breaking by Rosemary Wahtola Trommer
- Elegy VIII (Missing you) by Jason Schneiderman
Spring
- Advice by Langston Hughes
- Why Bother? by Sean Thomas Dougherty
- Romance by Timothy Liu
- Checkout by Caroline Bird
- [from For M by Mikko Harvey
Despite the description in the book’s preface, I felt like the split between the Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter anthologies was very literal and less emotional. Many of the Autumn poems actually featured the word “autumn” or “November”, most of the Winter poems feature “winter” or “snow”, and at times I was wondering if that was the only reason they were selected.
And to some of these poems, my only reaction is:
lower case letters and o d d
spacing
does not make a poem
————————————————————————————————
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
To preface: obviously, poetry is a subjective art form and my opinions don’t necessarily reflect the objective quality of these poems.
I find poetry anthologies to often be a mixed bag. Sometimes I hate them and sometimes I am like “this is pure genius!”. In this anthology in particular, not all of the poems were my cup of tea, but I did have a couple favorites from each section.
Summer
- Idea by Kate Baer
- Ode to Hunger by Zeina Hashem Beck
- Pattern by Garous Abdolmaleiken
- 43 by Coste Lewis
- To the Women Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall by Kim Addonizio
Autumn
- Why Did It by William J. Harris
Winter
- Watching My Friend Pretend Her Heart Is Not Breaking by Rosemary Wahtola Trommer
- Elegy VIII (Missing you) by Jason Schneiderman
Spring
- Advice by Langston Hughes
- Why Bother? by Sean Thomas Dougherty
- Romance by Timothy Liu
- Checkout by Caroline Bird
- [from For M by Mikko Harvey
Despite the description in the book’s preface, I felt like the split between the Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter anthologies was very literal and less emotional. Many of the Autumn poems actually featured the word “autumn” or “November”, most of the Winter poems feature “winter” or “snow”, and at times I was wondering if that was the only reason they were selected.
And to some of these poems, my only reaction is:
lower case letters and o d d
spacing
does not make a poem
————————————————————————————————
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
June 26, 2025
I follow the @poetryisnotaluxury Instagram, so was delighted to pick up this book to read. It is organized by seasons, and is supposed to celebrate the "beauty in every flourishing" and "to take part in a more communal experience of the world." As the editor indicates in the introduction, the anthology is a "mixtape."
What is readable about this book is that the poems are all pretty short and readable. Personally, the poetry didn't speak to me as much as I thought they might, and I didn't totally understand the separating of seasons for every single poem (or maybe I just didn't spend enough time with the collection). That's not to say it's not worthy--it is a sweet little collection to read before bed.
I include the poems that spoke to me--
At a Waterfall, Reykjavik by Eileen Myles
I still feel like
the world
is a piece
of bread
I’m holding
out half
to you.
This Morning by Hannah Bonner
Wind devours me like a whole life
left open.
Space, allowance, stars--
everything I'll take.
Fall Song by Joy Harjo
It is a dark fall day.
The earth is slightly damp with rain.
I hear a jay.
The cry is blue.
I have found you in the story again.
Is there another word for ‘‘divine’’?
I need a song that will keep sky open in my mind.
If I think behind me, I might break.
If I think forward, I lose now.
Forever will be a day like this
Strung perfectly on the necklace of days.
Slightly overcast
Yellow leaves
Your jacket hanging in the hallway
Next to mine.
Thank You by Ross Gay
Why Bother? by Sean Thomas Dougherty
Because right now there is someone
Out there with
a wound in the exact shape
of your words.
Fluent by John O'Donohue
I would like to live
Like a river flows.
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.
What is readable about this book is that the poems are all pretty short and readable. Personally, the poetry didn't speak to me as much as I thought they might, and I didn't totally understand the separating of seasons for every single poem (or maybe I just didn't spend enough time with the collection). That's not to say it's not worthy--it is a sweet little collection to read before bed.
I include the poems that spoke to me--
At a Waterfall, Reykjavik by Eileen Myles
I still feel like
the world
is a piece
of bread
I’m holding
out half
to you.
This Morning by Hannah Bonner
Wind devours me like a whole life
left open.
Space, allowance, stars--
everything I'll take.
Fall Song by Joy Harjo
It is a dark fall day.
The earth is slightly damp with rain.
I hear a jay.
The cry is blue.
I have found you in the story again.
Is there another word for ‘‘divine’’?
I need a song that will keep sky open in my mind.
If I think behind me, I might break.
If I think forward, I lose now.
Forever will be a day like this
Strung perfectly on the necklace of days.
Slightly overcast
Yellow leaves
Your jacket hanging in the hallway
Next to mine.
Thank You by Ross Gay
Why Bother? by Sean Thomas Dougherty
Because right now there is someone
Out there with
a wound in the exact shape
of your words.
Fluent by John O'Donohue
I would like to live
Like a river flows.
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews