So, because the range of “most influential” is so broad, I wanted to create some parameters. These collections in particular are often referenced as inspiration by other poets and artists. They also have a wide readership and are often (but not always) part of the poetry curriculum*. This list features both social media poets who published collections later, to poets who have been in the canon for decades. It’s important to remember that we cannot limit “influence” to a specific time. There are so many poets who could have been on this list, and I hope you will keep an open mind as you read. We can all be influenced by different poetry, so I encourage you to think of what collections you would add to this list. *I’m referring specifically to poetry curricula in the United States. The poetic canon varies wildly in different countries and regions. As I said earlier, there are so many more collections that could be on this list, but if you are a poetry lover looking for more collections to read, this is a great place to start. For more poetry, check out some of the greatest poems of all time and a few must-read queer poetry collections.
