Celebrate Poetry Day by Getting to Know New Poets on Hoopla
National Poetry Day is a perfect opportunity to explore new poets and fresh poems, and what better place to do so than Hoopla? If you are a fan of classic verse or you want to dive into works by emerging poetry writers, Hoopla offers an extensive collection that celebrates poetry in all its forms. This year, join fellow poetry lovers in marking National Poetry Day by discovering new voices and enjoying a world of poems right at your fingertips.
Discover a World of Poems and Poets
Hoopla’s poetry collection spans a wide range of styles and themes, featuring both established and emerging poets. From heartfelt personal narratives to lyrical explorations of nature and identity, you can immerse yourself in poems that speak to every mood and moment.
When Is National Poetry Day?
It is the first Thursday in October, falling on October 3 in 2025. Each year, it’s an ideal opportunity to explore poetic treasures and support poetry writers worldwide.
Celebrate National Poetry Day with Hoopla
With Hoopla, you can access poetry anytime, anywhere, making it simple to explore this literary art form. Whether you prefer reading or listening, Hoopla’s audiobooks and eBooks help you engage with poetry, encouraging a personal connection to the poems and poets you encounter.
We’ve chosen a few titles to get you started:
Audiobooks
Ode to my First Car
Ode to My First Car by Robin Gow: In this YA contemporary sapphic romance told in verse, a closeted bisexual teen navigates love, identity, and heartbreak during a transformative summer, torn between her longtime best friend and a new crush, while forming a life-changing bond with an elderly lesbian woman from the past.
I Hope You Remember
I Hope You Remember by Josie Balka: In her debut poetry collection, I Hope You Remember, viral TikTok poet Josie Balka explores universal themes like love, nostalgia, body image, and hope through clear, emotionally resonant verse that speaks to the longings and lessons we carry through life.
Hello There, Sunshine
Hello There, Sunshine by Tabitha Brown: In her uplifting children’s debut, Tabitha Brown tells the story of young Tabitha, who sets out to find the missing sun and discovers that the light she’s searching for shines from within.
Where the Heart Should Be
Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan: Set during the Irish famine of 1847, this historical novel in verse follows a 16-year-old scullery maid who falls in love with a British heir while fighting to keep her family alive amid heartbreak, hunger, and rising tensions.
Poemhood: Our Black Revival
Poemhood: Our Black Revival edited by Amber McBride, Taylor Byas, and Erica Martin: This powerful Black YA poetry anthology features 37 voices—both emerging and legendary—that celebrate the richness, resilience, and complexity of Black culture, heritage, and identity through verse.
Invisible Stings
Invisible Strings edited by Kristie Frederick-Daugherty: This unique poetry anthology features 113 original poems by acclaimed contemporary poets, each inspired by a Taylor Swift song, celebrating her lyrical artistry while inviting readers to decode connections across her musical eras.
eBooks
No One Knows Us There
No One Knows Us There by Jessica Bebenek: A lyrical debut that explores early womanhood and the transformation of grief into healing through two intertwined portraits—one of a caregiving granddaughter, the other of a reflective older self—set against a vivid backdrop of hospital corridors and wild natural beauty.
Book of Potions
Book of Potions by Lauren k. Watel: A fierce and imaginative collection of hybrid prose poems that explores a woman’s midlife experience with wit, rage, and surreal beauty, blending poetry and fiction into potent reflections on identity, expectation, and transformation.
Coachella Elegy
Coachella Elegy by Christian Gullette: A poignant debut poetry collection that explores queer joy, love, and survival in the American West amid personal loss and environmental crisis, blending desert beauty with haunting elegy and resilient hope.
Song of My Softening
Song of My Softening by Omotara James: This poetry collection explores evolving self-identity and societal perceptions of Black queerness, delving deeply into expressions of love, pain, and bodily experience with both sharpness and compassion.
Revisit the Classics—or Read Them for the First Time
All the new poets featured above are part of a long, long line of the poetic tradition. For National Poetry Day—or any day—we’ve curated a collection of poetry that spans centuries and nations. Browse Hoopla’s Poetry Collection and reread a favorite or read a classic for the very first time.
Here are a few highlights from the poetry collection:
The Odyssey
The Odyssey by Homer and read by Gordon Griffin: This epic poem dates back to the late eighth century B.C., making it among the oldest known Western works. It follows Greek hero Odysseus on his perilous 10-year journey home after the Trojan War, battling mythical creatures, divine wrath, and harsh weather. Because it was originally composed in oral tradition, it’s an ideal choice for an audiobook.
Inferno
Inferno by Dante Alighieri and read by Corin Redgrave, Alex Jennings, Laurie Anderson, and Arthur Brown: Inferno is the first part of Dante’s epic Divine Comedy, written in the early 1300s. It follows Dante’s journey through the nine circles of Hell with the poet Virgil as his guide. Each circle symbolizes a specific sin and its punishment, serving as an allegory for the soul’s recognition and rejection of sin on its path toward God.
Milk and Honey
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur: Milk and Honey, published in 2015, is divided into four chapters, each addressing a different pain and healing a different heartache, guiding readers through life’s bitter moments while uncovering sweetness in them.
Make Me Rain
Make Me Rain by Nikki Giovanni: This is a powerful and personal collection from one of America’s most celebrated poets. It was published in 2020 and confronts societal injustices, honors Giovanni’s Black heritage and loved ones, and reaffirms her vibrant voice while tackling racism, white nationalism, and personal loss.
Why National Poetry Day Matters
National Poetry Day reminds us of the power of poems to inspire, heal, and connect people across different backgrounds and experiences. It’s a chance to celebrate not only the works of renowned poets but also those of new and emerging poetry writers who are shaping the future of this timeless art form. So this poetry day, dive into the rich and varied world of poetry on Hoopla, and let new voices enrich your reading list. Celebrate National Poetry Day by exploring fresh poems and poets on Hoopla—your gateway to discovering the diverse and dynamic world of poetry today.
*Titles may vary by library
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