Poetry for the People

‘When we are in trouble collectively we don’t want context and plot. A poem makes the most sense because there is no fluff. It goes right in and gets to what we are all feeling.’ Said Ocean Vuong in a recent interview with the Guardian. And it is this sense of directly speaking to our inner sensibilities that’s echoed in the exquisite poetry collections discussed this August. Whether dealing with grief, lamenting lost love, rejoicing in nature or questioning our place in the world: these poets – masters of their craft – cut to the heart.