I have always loved poetry. From "roses are red" to Poe, poetry holds a special place in my heart, and these are five of the most influential poems in my world. I hope that when you need a few words that can help you center yourself, express yourself or even remind you to take a deep breath, these poems will be here for you like they were for me.

1. "Love" by Roy Croft

When my great grandmother died, I was 7 years old. I loved books a lot, and after her wake, my relatives piled my arms high with books, mostly old a few bibles. One of them was a collection of poetry published in 1936. On page 25, was this beautiful poem that talked about turning the broken parts of a person's heart into a beautiful place of worship. The language still sticks with me, and almost a decade and a half later, I still remember most of the lines. I read it to myself occasionally when I look at the person that I love.

2. "B" by Sarah Kay

My love affair for Sarah's work started when I stumbled across her on YouTube one day. Her TED talk on poetry's power started with this poem. I started to obsess with this poem, because how else can the world be described other than being made out of sugar, fragile but worthwhile all the same. I imagined this poem as a lullaby that I will give to my own daughter one day, because knowing that the world will hurt you but that there will always be your Point B to return to and get better with.

3. "Wasabi" by Andrea Gibson

I love poets that I can identify with, so an angry butch lesbian feminist is just the kind of poet that I would be in to. Andrea Gibson is the kind of poet that needs to take a gulp of air in between every line because her poetry is enough to punch the air right out of your lungs. I like this one most for the last stanza. because that could be more frightening or alive than a lightning storm of love?

4. "Promise me" by Tyler Knott Gregson

I found this poem through To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) which is an amazing organization. They paired up with Tyler and his collection of poetry and this one stuck out. I have a canvas made by my Big with this poem hanging above my bed. I think it is so easy for us to forget that we love life, when things start piling up all around us, so this poem is a beautiful way to remember to breathe.

5. "Pass On" by Michael Lee

Another one of my YouTube discoveries, this poem handles death in the most beautiful way. My grandfather died when I was a sophomore in high school. My grandfather was a brilliant man, and I loved standing in his radiance. The day that he died, it was like all of the wind was knocked out of my lungs. I was lost for a few months, because I couldn't seem to find the air I needed to breathe, but then I found this poem and it made me feel less alone. So instead of feeling empty, I went and found the strongest wind I could so I could feel my grandfather's brilliance pass on.