For book lovers like myself, reading is a way to escape reality. We read to leave our world for a little bit and venture into another one where there are new people and new situations. We read to live multiple different lives, most of which are much more interesting than our own, and to relax after a long day. But most of the time, for myself especially, we read when we are sad and when we need to distract our minds from the things that are dragging us down.

Here is a list of five of my favorite poetry books I have read that have helped pull me out of whatever negativity was going on in my life at the time. They are each incredibly beautiful and well written and will forever have a place on my bookshelf.

1. Milk and Honey

This is probably one of the most popular poetry books out right now. Written by Rupi Kaur, it is perfect for feminists or anyone else who loves femininity, healing after losing love, and overcoming abuse. It encourages readers to focus on loving themselves and all of the positive things in the world instead of dwelling on negativity. For people who also enjoy images in their books, there are little sketches at the bottom of the pages done by Rupi Kaur herself.

2. Bluets

“Suppose I were to begin by saying that I had fallen in love with a color."

Centered around the color blue, author Maggie Nelson chronicles suffering, pain, and loss. She writes of her personal loss of a relationship and also follows the story of a friend who has become a quadriplegic. Throughout her book, she consults with different writers and other people interested in the arts and writes of her interviews with them, always somehow returning to the color blue.

3. Eighteen Years

This one is perhaps my favorite book out of this whole list. It is written by Madisen Kuhn and was published when she was just nineteen. The entire book is about figuring out who you are whether you are young or old and just learning to find your way in the world. There are poems about heartache and loss and poems about why the world is the way that it is. As Kuhn says, "It's a hug in book form."

4. Black Butterfly

One of many books written by author Robert M. Drake, this one is probably the most intense. Nearly every poem or piece of prose has a black and white image to accompany it which adds to the overall emotional impact. Drake wrote this after the death of one of his brothers, making it a collection of memories and personal experiences that are remarkably written. As he states in his book summary, "The Black Butterfly is a symbol of transformation and rebirth after death."

5. Memories

Lang Leav wrote this as a sort of collection of all her favorite poems from her other books. It is perfect for any poetry lover and is centered mainly on falling in love and the feelings that accompany it. At times provocative, it is full of emotion and definitely a good read for people who are in the beginning stages of love.

Each one of these books is amazing and I hope they can do for you what they have done for me.