Millennials have their own way of doing everything. Whether it’s art, literature, politics or culture; leave it to a millennial to give things a new meaning. This week at Daastan, we bring to you the best of millennial poets. Thus, we have curated a list of 21st century’s best poets from all across the globe.
Millennials & Literature
Poetry is the most intimate form of art. In order to feel and savour every emotion it conveys, it should be raw and unfiltered. However, the trends of poetry since times immemorial have been difficult to understand by laymen. Then came the millennial generation that fought against the rules and conventions that restricted poetry. And hence transformed the poetic trends. It’s important to understand that trends of poetry have drastically changed in the last two decades. So, the poetic landscape now includes, spontaneous instagram posts and captions, quick 141 character limit tweets and the widely loved spoken word.
Noor Unnahar – Millennials redefining poetry
First on our recommendation list is Noor Unnahar. Unnahar is a 23 year old Karachi born poet & blogger. In grade 6, she entered the world of internet by her blog Noor’s Place. It’s no exaggeration to call her a multi-hyphenate artist. Multitasking comes naturally to her. Not only she’s a published author but she’s also a full time art student at IVS, Karachi. Yesterday I was the Moon is her debut poetry book. Unnahar’s book explores her voice through this book and talks about heartbreak in the form of poetry and prose. Moreover in 2018, she also launched her Find Your Voice Journal. As the name suggests, Find Your Voice Journal is a customised diary that allows you to explore your inner poet through a series of prompts given by Noor herself.
Ocean Vuong
“All freedom is relative—you know too well—and sometimes it’s no freedom at all, but simply the cage widening far away from you, the bars abstracted with distance but still there, as when they “free” wild animals into nature preserves only to contain them yet again by larger borders. But I took it anyway, that widening. Because sometimes not seeing the bars is enough”
― On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
Doesn’t this make you skip a breath? Does it not make you contemplate freedom in way you have never before? (screams in fangirl) I get it, Ocean Vuong can do that to you with his words. My first encounter with his works was through his novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. Later I found out poetry is his niche. Vuong rose to fame after his poems were published in American Poetry Review, Gulf Coast, The New Yorker, The Poetry Review and other prominent poetry journals.
He made it to the New York Times Top 10 Book of 2016, for his critically acclaimed poetry collection, Night Sky with Exit Wounds. Vuong is the winner of the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Whiting Award, the Thom Gunn Award, and the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. One of the reviews on Google Reads summed up exactly how it’s like to experience Vuong’s poetry. “To read Ocean Vuong’s Night Sky with Exit Wounds is to be dazzled by gorgeous lyricism.
Najwa Zebian – Phoenix of Millennials
Najwa is undoubtedly the phoenix of millennials. She is embodiment of making your own way through life, despite the many challenges that come with. Najwa is a Lebanese-Canadian activist, author, poet, educator, and speaker based in London. She gained popularity after speaking about her trauma during the #MeToo Movement. About the harassment she faced, she told NewYork Times:
“I was blamed for it. I was told not to talk about it. I was told that it wasn’t that bad. I was told to get over it.”
Her story is of resilience and unwavering spirit.
After moving to Canada, she started teaching. Najwa says seeing her students made her reconnect with her younger self and that’s how she began to write. Today Najwa is an advocate for self-love, dealing with trauma and learning to heal. Mind Platter, Nectar of Pain and The Sparks of Phoenix are her poetry collections.
Alex Pierre Jeanty
Alex Pierre Jeanty is a Haitian-American author, publisher, and entrepreneur. After quitting his job in 2014, Jeanty became a full time self-help writer and a poet. Through his poetry he aims to make men understand the mistakes they make in relationships. He encourages women to never settle for less than what they deserve. Even though he is a man, Jeanty never fails to hold his gender accountable and advocates for a healthy version of masculinity.
Unspoken Feelings of a Gentleman is his first poetry collection. After the success of his first book, he wrote Her Volume I & II, Him, and To the Women I Once Loved. He also hosts “The REALationship Therapy” podcast with his wife Natalie Jeanty.
Akif Kichloo
Everyone has a daily ritual they can’t seem to complete their day without. My daily ritual includes reading a poem or two by Akif Kichloo. Whether I am on my way to university in bus or having a cup of coffee in the evening, I pause for a moment to savour his words. Besides being a poet, Akif is a doctor, musician, photographer and artist. He is famous for his poetry collection “The feeling may remain.”
Akif’s words have made it to international anthologies like Poem a Day Anthology 2015, Umbilical Cords: An Anthology on Parents Remembered, Different Truths Anthology, Sheraza literary journal of J & K academy of Art, Culture and Languages. Moreover he was featured in literary magazines like Glass, Palette Poetry, Fly Paper Magazine, and counting.
Christopher Poindextor
On a rebellious trip to California, young Christopher became a poet. Being a soul dedicated to make the sense of human condition, he started exploring the depths of pain, grief, love & loss through the power of pen. “Poetry held me when a body couldn’t” is a quote by him that resonates with millions of us who have been healed by its touch. Naked Human, Lavender (Remastered), and Old Soul Love are his poetry collections. Christopher is loved by millions around the world not only for his poetry but for the beautiful heart that beats inside of him.
“If empathy had a face, it would be his.” My understanding of the word empathy comes from him. Christopher Poindextor opened my heart to all the different kinds of aches that surround us. Coming across his poetry made me realise that it’s a gift to be able to feel things on a frequency much greater than others. Poindextor represents to me the collective struggle of humankind as feeling beings. But the best thing about him is that he doesn’t shy away from experiencing all the emotions on the spectrum. Poetry forces me to be relentless with tenderness, says Poindextor. Discovering his poetry at the most vulnerable point in my life is something I will always be grateful for. Grace, humility and the freedom to be my sensitive self are few of the many things I have learned from him.
Rupi Kaur – Voice of Millennials
My first introduction to Instagram poetry was through Rupi Kaur. I picked up her book “Milk & Honey” at a friend’s place. Until that moment I never knew this form of poetry even existed. Fresh into the highschool, I was having a difficult time navigating through teenage. Rupi’s insight on love, healing, hurting & sense of identity hit home. It was also when I realised I was falling in love with poetry. From that moment forward, I not only read poetry at a very fast rate but also unleashed my inner poet. What Rupi has been to my journey of self-exploration, I hope to be that for someone else.
Apart from poetry, Rupi loves to draw. She has been making illustrations since the tender age of 5. Illustrations give life to her poetry. They’re a visual representation of the gorgeous depths of her soul. Spoken word is something that she does ever so elegantly. Watching her perform poetry is a sublime experience. Therefore, Kaur being a NewYork Times Bestseller twice is absolutely well deserved.
Lang Leav
Last but not the least on our millennials’ recommendation list is Lang Leav. Born as a refugee in Thailand, Lang moved to Australia with her family 1981. Her interest in literature developed early in life. Lang used to write poetry and share it with her school fellows. Conversational & easy going can be described as her poerty style. The sublimity in her poetry has attracted the attention of millions. In 2013, Lang made it to the NewYork Times Bestseller for Love and Misadventures. In addition to that, Google Reads ranked the bestseller for Lullabies (2014).
Poetry and prose collection
- Love and Misadventures (2013)
- Lullabies (2014)
- Memories (2015)
- The Universe of Us (2016)
- Sea of Strangers (2018)
- Love looks pretty on you (2019)
- September Love (2020)
Novels
One can never have enough poetry books to read. So, if you have recommendations to add to this list, let us know.
