To celebrate Women’s History Month in March—and the rich tradition of poetry by women all year long—browse this selection of poems by classic and contemporary poets, appropriate for young people.
“A Woman Sleeps on an Island” by Marjorie Agosín
A woman sleeps on an island…
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history…
“When Fannie Lou Hamer Said” by Mahogany L. Browne
I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired…
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“sisters” by Lucille Clifton
I went down to…
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“We never know how high we are (1176)” by Emily Dickinson
We never know how high we are…
“Girls On the Town, 1946” by Rita Dove
You love a red lip. The dimples are...
“Poem Not to Be Read at Your Wedding” by Beth Ann Fennelly
You ask me for a poem about love...
“Moon for Our Daughters” by Annie Finch
Moon that is linking our daughters’…
“In This Place (An American Lyric)” by Amanda Gorman
There’s a poem in this place—…
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“4.” by bell hooks
earth works...
“The Map” by Marie Howe
The failure of love might account for most of the suffering…
“Oughta Be a Woman” by June Jordan
Washing the floors to send you to college…
“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame…
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“How to Triumph Like a Girl” by Ada Limón
I like the lady horses best…
“Resurrection” by Sally Wen Mao
In the autumn I moved to New York…
“The courage that my mother had” by Edna St. Vincent Millay
The courage that my mother had…
“Making History” by Marilyn Nelson
Somebody took a picture of a class…
“Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye
Before you know what kindness really is…
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“One Vote” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
My parents are from countries
“Again, She Tells the First Story” by Barbara Jane Reyes
Once, then there was no light…
“Diving into the Wreck” by Adrienne Rich
First having read the book of myths…
“The Buttonhook” by Mary Jo Salter
President Roosevelt, touring Ellis Island…
“from Fast Speaking Woman” by Anne Waldman
I’m a rock woman…
“This Body II” by Renée Watson
My body is...
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