The Moon is Always Female by Marge Piercy
This is a haunting, magical collection on what it means to be a woman.
American Primitive by Mary Oliver
The union of nature and man is a concept that I greatly appreciate from Oliver and other poets. It helps me as a writer understand my own role in this world even more.
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
Nelson’s weaving of research with craft create a poetic outlook on grief and sadness. I could read this book a thousand times and still feel moved by it.
Bright Dead Things by Ada Limon
One of my favorite books that reminds me that life is supposed to be beautifully chaotic.
Kingdom Animalia by Aracelis Girmay
I loved the turn at the end of the titular poem which calls for loving a body even “when the dirt’s the only animal who will sleep with you.” A total punch to the gut.
Taylor Gianfrancisco is an MFA Candidate at Stetson University where she studies ecopoetry, site-specific poetry, and experimental sound poems. She has had poems published in Royal Rose, The Cypress Dome, and Bone & Ink. She currently interns at DLG Publishing Partners and lives in Orlando, Florida.