I wouldn't call myself a 'reader' by any means. I don't always have a book I'm diving into or a story I'm constantly thinking about. With all the textbooks that come with college, I just don't have the desire.
I hate to admit it, but most of my 'reading' is done on my phone. However, as a way to balance a busy schedule but still wanting to pick up a book, I've recently discovered a few poets that I believe every college student trying to begin their journey of adulthood should check out.
1. Lang Leav
I got acquainted with Lang Leav's writing as a freshman in high school, but her words didn't mean nearly as much then as they do now, four years later. Her poems perfectly capture the feelings and trials of love and heartbreak. A personal favorite is her book Love & Misadventure.
2. r.h. Sin
r.h. Sin's poems are inspired by women, written for women. His words fully capture the nature of powerful and unstoppable women in this world. The first book of his that I added to my collection was I hope this reaches her in time, though he has a wide collection out that I suggest you check out.
If you're interested in checking out his work before committing to a book, I recommend you check out his instagram page, where he posts his poetry daily.
3. Rupi Kaur
If you're current with popular poets and writers, you will have probably heard of Rupi Kaur. Her breakthrough piece is called Milk and Honey, and her most recent piece is called The Sun and Her Flowers. Rupi delves into the most complex parts of human life, like love, relationships, loss, and womanhood. This is definitely a must for anyone going through heartache.
4. Samantha King
Samantha's most recent book, Born to Love, Cursed to Feel, is a book filled with inspiring words of heartbreak and grieving. Her poems clearly depict the feelings of loss and brokenness that you often can't put into words yourself. If you're a fan of r.h. Sin, you will love her work and they way it pulls you in and makes you feel.
5. Nikita Gill
Nikita Gill is unlike any traditional poet or writer. Does her name sound the slightest bit familiar? It's because her work is scattered across the Internet and various social media platforms, and, until recently, not in actual books.
The story goes that Nikita was rejected by over a hundred publishers from her work, so she took to the internet to share her art. You can find her poetry on sites like Pinterest (where I discovered her) and her Tumblr blog. However, this last year she released her book, Wild Embers, and it is definitely a great pick.