The Best Poetry Audiobooks to Listen to for National Poetry Month

Just in time for National Poetry Month, award-winning writer Ocean Vuong has a new collection of poems, centered on the aftershocks of his mother's death and read in his own voice. As Vuong told Audible Editor Aaron in an interview about the book, the biggest surprise for him was the universality of grief. "To be a mammal is to be born and to lose your mother. I somehow felt closer to the world, the people in it, after losing my mom. Of course, this is a small consolation, if you can even call it that, one I’d be happy to give back if I could hug my mother again, even just for seven seconds."

English actor Jeremy Irons, known for his iconic roles in Lolita and The Lion King, lends his acting prowess and magnetic voice to this spoken word collection of T.S. Eliot’s best work. No matter if you’ve been a fan of Eliot for years or you’re just discovering the modernist poet, Irons invites you in and helps you feel at home with his soothing delivery. Classics like The Waste Land and Four Quartets are given new emphasis, providing an exemplary listening experience that will help you understand Eliot’s poems in a whole new way. Coming in at just under four hours of easy listening, this highly rated audiobook is revered for a captivating performance worthy of its author.

Beyond a mere recitation of verse, the Audible Original production Olio Live offers a living, breathing interpretation of the work of Tyehimba Jess’s Pultizer Prize-winning collection, Olio. A full cast of performers lend their talents to Jess’s meditations on African American performance throughout history, from ragtime greats William Blind Boone and Scott Joplin to Sissieretta Jones, a soprano who rejected the limitations imposed on Black performers. Jess tells the stories of these creative powerhouses too often lost to history, their art co-opted, brilliantly incorporating historical narratives with an exceptional, stirring use of language.

Get lost in the brooding, ever-expansive world of author Mary Oliver, winner of a National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, in At Blackwater Pond. Over more than 40 years of exploring nature through her poems, Oliver demonstrated a knack for pinpointing the beautiful and complicated connection we have with our surroundings. Listeners have described walking away from her work feeling a deep sense of calm and an elevated level of introspection. Delighting fans, Oliver—who was known for rarely commenting on her work—narrates each spoken word poem, allowing you to experience every line as she intended it to be heard. Perfect as a companion during long walks in nature, this poetry collection takes a methodical approach to observing the beauty in the mundane, and implores you to try your hand at the same.

If you like a dose of inspiration with your poetry, look no further than Heart Talk by Cleo Wade. Wade, an artist and speaker, has earned no shortage of fans with her Instagram account that offers affirmations and mantras to anyone seeking a new perspective on their life. Spiritual and soothing for the soul, this collection is a calming balm to the nonstop stress and hustle of everyday life. Her voice is delicate and smooth, a style that only underscores the encouraging nature of every pep talk and motivational line. The perfect recharge for anyone feeling a bit drained or burned out, Heart Talk will leave you stronger and more self-assured than ever before.

Joy Harjo’s heartbreakingly beautiful collection takes a critical look at the history of our country and what it means for our children’s futures, beginning in the early 1800s with the genocide of the Mvskoke nation in what is now Oklahoma. Her ability to weave in and out of the past and present allows listeners to travel with her as she connects to a deeper part of herself, inviting you to do the same. Returning to the same land her ancestors once called home, her works examine the importance of historical accuracy and reflection in the modern world. The first Native American poet laureate, Harjo is celebrated for her ability to bring together cultures in her works. Her carefully thought-out narration threads hope throughout each poem, even as she comes to grips with the tragedy of her family line. A thought-provoking listen for history buffs and poetry fans alike, An American Sunrise is full of wisdom that stands the test of time.

A longer audiobook you’ll return to time and time again, Leaves of Grass is the self-published collection of Walt Whitman. The first work by one of the most influential poets in United States history, it is also praised as his best. Featuring sexual themes, this compilation was at first condemned for its frankness before being celebrated for its striking influence on the landscape of American poetry. Left in its unabridged form—including Ralph Waldo Emerson's letter—you will come to find a new lesson in every listen. The measured and low voice of narrator Sam Torode provides a blank canvas for your imagination, as each of Whitman’s words can elicit a physical, emotional, and spiritual response. Just one listen can provide an easy understanding of why Whitman is recognized as one of America’s greatest poets, as he has a powerful way of discerning every facet of society and unearthing the truths of the American experience.

Maya Angelou is perhaps one of the greatest writers who has ever lived. The activist and author, known best for masterful memoirs like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and The Heart of a Woman, also made her mark as a poet whose words will long be remembered. In And Still I Rise, listeners can hear firsthand what made Angelou’s work so impactful. With a distinct sense of musicality and lyricism, this collection of 32 poems (which includes both the title gem and her monumental Phenomenal Woman) delves into topics of race, love, loss, and gender without ever losing an ounce of humor, hope, and joy.

With a name as striking as the poems inside, Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth takes a pointed look at the strife of refugees throughout history and the magnificence in their perseverance. Narrated by Shire herself, she is as unabashedly honest in her performance as she was putting pen to paper, making this a can’t-miss listen. Her work has transcended genres and mediums, even making an appearance in several songs on Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade. But this rendition provides a beauty entirely its own with Shire’s ethereal narration not to be overlooked. This half-hour journey into the rawness of the soul is sure to inspire the shy to speak their minds and the shallow to dive deep within.

There are few writers as attuned to the significance of poetics as Hanif Abdurraqib. His gorgeous essay collections like They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, Go Ahead in the Rain, and A Little Devil in America demonstrate his ability to thoughtfully work with words and rhythm to craft sentences that feel truly alive. So it tracks that Hanif is also a renowned poet, a Pushcart Prize nominee who melds the personal and political with heart, empathy, and a depth of understanding. A Fortune for Your Disaster is his second collection of poetry, a work that focuses on those most human moments: coping with a mother’s death, forging identity and friendship, and reconstructing who you are after heartbreak leaves you completely shattered. His delivery, breathless and emotive, is the perfect companion to his extraordinary poems.

The careful consideration and collaboration that went into this particular edition of Pablo Neruda's writings can be felt immediately upon listening. C.S. Verdád’s stunning narration helps complete the picture Neruda sets forth to create. And with new, more accurate translations, this collection of his 50 most breathtaking poems offers an unprecedented look into one of history's most beloved and iconic poets. Much like with Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, many of Neruda’s works were sometimes explicit in their portrayals of love and romance. But those uninterested in his more erotic work are sure to find gems in other pieces in this collection, as this work spans the many genres and topics Neruda experimented in over the years.

Even if you’re only familiar with Grammy-nominated Halsey as a musician, it’s evident in her lyrics alone that she is also an incredibly gifted poet. In her debut I Would Leave Me If I Could., she offers a glimpse into her most personal struggles and triumphs, assessing ghosts of past relationships, life with bipolar disorder, and explorations of love and sexuality. Halsey narrates each poem in her own voice, soft and expressive, a performance that only underscores the intimacy of each confessional poem. The result is a raw, relatable listen that emphasizes vulnerability as strength.

For centuries, poetry has been used by romantics to woo the objects of their affection or to express devotion to their beloved. The collection Classic Love Poems features just a few of these swoon-worthy selections, from Lord Byron's She Walks in Beauty to Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee to Elizabeth Barrett Browning's How do I love thee. Familiar and sweet, these sentimental entries illustrate the true beauty of verse. Audie Award-winning fan favorite Richard Armitage lends a heartfelt rendering of these works with a performance that one listener said 'moves one's heart, mind, and soul'.

In this ferocious and tender debut from award-winning poet Chen Chen, the author investigates inherited forms of love and family—the strained relationship between a mother and son, the cost of necessary goodbyes—all from Asian American, immigrant, and queer perspectives. Read by the author, this collection fully embraces the loss, grief, and abundant joy that come with charting one's own path in identity, life, and love.

Blythe Baird is a spoken word poet perhaps best known for her viral slam poems including When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny, Pocket-Sized Feminism, Relapse, and Girl Code 101. Her work, biting, incisive, and absolutely devastating, has been watched by millions online, no doubt resonating with young women across the globe. If My Body Could Speak contains poems new and familiar, each one revealing something significant about the lasting sting of trauma, the universalities of girlhood, and the power of survival and self-love in a world that often demands otherwise. Her voice and delivery are as rich as ever, alternating between tones acerbic and gentle.

David Shih’s professional and tempered narration allows the words of Li Po to come alive on entirely their own merit. Although Li Po lived in an era far different than our modern way of life, his sublime ability to relate to the unity inside of us all keeps each lyric accessible. Known as one of the greatest poets of Chinese culture, Po was a master in the practice of nonattachment. This lens through which he viewed the world rendered great poems including Alone and Drinking Under the Moon and Autumn River Song, both of which drew great meaning from the surrounding nature. With every poem providing a new look into China’s robust history, the lines of culture are blurred as he speaks to what connects us all.

Like Blythe Baird, poet Rudy Francisco came to fame in the spoken word space after going viral with Button Poetry. If you’re a fan of his poems like My Honest Poem, Complainers, and To The Girl Who Works At Starbucks, you’re already familiar with his stellar mix of humor, intensity, and deft cultural criticism. In Helium, Francisco shares yet another masterclass in performance. With poems ranging in topic from class and race to love and self-reflection, this absolutely outstanding collection is made a must-listen by Francisco’s incomparable performance abilities.

Featuring more than 80 previously unpublished works of poetry, The Essential Rumi has become Rumi’s most notable best seller. This is thanks in part to narrator and translator Robertson Dean, who contributed both a foreword and his lyrical cadence to the collection, creating an unmatched listening experience. Dean’s robust and distinct voice will draw you in immediately and allow you to experience Rumi in a whole new way. Rumi explores the layers of existence throughout his work, bringing a malleability to life and its meaning. His use of metaphor and allegorical prose invites you to take on a more inquisitive view of the world. The journey that is The Essential Rumi is beloved by many and will bring listeners back time and time again.

Emily Dickinson and Amy Landon make an exciting and captivating pair in the audiobook edition of Hope Is the Thing with Feathers. Landon, known for breathing life into thrillers and political think pieces, takes on Dickinson's poetry collection with inspiring vigor and freshness. With her words, Dickinson fought back against the rigid rules of society, ultimately encouraging those who would later hear her works to do the same. Much like its title, this canon speaks to the glistening ambition nestled in every heart, calling upon it to take flight and make change in the world.

Named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, Amanda Gorman became an international sensation when she performed her poem The Hill We Climb at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. With its message of unity, perseverance, and bravery in the face of great turmoil, the poem offered a semblance of healing and harmony while reinforcing the significance of staying hopeful and continuing the fight for justice. Now, her full poetry collection is finally available, so grab the tissues and get ready for an unforgettable listen.