Some people think they hate poetry – and when schools are handing out Dante’s Inferno or Homer’s Iliad, I really can’t blame you personally (I mean did anyone actually finish them or did you just read the Sparknotes?).

But, Instagram has allowed a new generation of poets to carve out their own niche within the world of poetry. Gone are the long-winded epics, with their 352 pages and repetitive phrases, instead the genre of insta poetry provides small, bite-sized pieces of magic. So if you are excited to explore poetry in a new light, here is a list of my fav inspiring insta poets that you should follow!

Atticus (@atticuspoetry)

Atticus is the anonymous New York Times Bestselling author of Love Her Wild, The Dark Between Stars and The Truth About Magic. He is a storyteller and observer. Born in the Pacific Northwest, he’s spent much of his life exploring the world and now calls California his home.

His bestselling poetry book The Dark Between Stars is available for click and collect!

Erin Hanson (@thepoeticunderground)

Erin Hanson took the world by storm when the Australian wrote the now famous line “What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?”. At the time she was only 18 years old and now at the age of 21 she has published several poetry books including; Reverie, Voyage, and Dreamscape. 

Christopher poindexter (@christopherpoindexter)

Christopher Poindexter is a bohemian poet who began writing poetry on a rebellious trip to California when he was 18. He considers himself more of an observer, trying to make sense of the human condition in all of its grit and glory. Being very inspired by both the darkness and the light, he aims to share an ultimate truth in all of his writing; though we all have our dances with demons, our hearts haunted by loss, by fear, it is the light that always beckons us. He has published several books including; Naked Human, Old Soul Love, and Lavender (Remastered). 

Rupi Kaur (@rupikaur)

Rupi Kaur is a #1 new york times bestselling author and illustrator of two collections of poetry. She started drawing at the age of five when her mother handed her a paintbrush and said—draw your heart out. Rupi views her life as an exploration of that artistic journey, after completing her degree in rhetoric studies she published her first collection of poems milk and honey in 2014. The internationally acclaimed collection sold well over a million copies gracing the New York Times bestsellers list every week for over a year. Through this collection she explores a variety of themes ranging from love, loss, trauma, healing, femininity, migration, and revolution.

Reuben Holmes (@r.h.sin)

Born in New Brunswick, NJ, and later moving to Florida, r.h. Sin comes from a place where a life of pain is the norm and destruction is a constant. Through an early love for reading and writing, r.h. Sin was able to pull away from some of the social distractions that plagued so many of his peers. After returning to the northeast and moving to New York in pursuit of love, the young modern poet found that and much more. He is the author of; Whiskey Words and a Shovel (Volumes I-III), Rest in the Mourning, and A Beautiful Composition of Broken. 

Courtney Peppernell (@courtneypeppernell)

Courtney Peppernell is a best-selling author from Sydney, Australia. Her writing career launched in 2015 with her debut novels Chasing Paper Cranes and Keeping Long Island. Her first poetry collection Pillow Thoughts was released in 2016 and has consecutively remained a number one best-seller. Courtney spends her days writing with her beloved dogs Hero and Dakota, always keeping her feet warm. She hopes to continue exploring expression and the art of healing through storytelling for years to come.

Amanda Lovelace (@ladybookmad)

Amanda Lovelace is the author of the celebrated “women are some kind of magic” series. She is also the two-time winner of the goodreads choice award for best poetry, as well as a USA Today & Publishers Weekly bestseller. When she isn’t reading, writing, or drinking a much-needed cup of coffee, you can find her casting spells from her home in a (very) small town on the jersey shore.

Nikita Gill (@nikita_gill)

Nikita Gill is a British-Indian writer and poet living in the south of England. With a huge online following, her words have entranced hearts and minds all over the world. She has published five volumes of poetry, including; Wild Embers, Your Soul Is A River , Fierce Fairytales & Other Stories to Stir Your Soul, Great Goddesses, and Your Heart Is The Sea. Her work offers reflections on love, and feminist re-tellings of fairytales and Greek myths.

Nayyirah Waheed (@nayyirah.waheed)

Nayyirah Waheed is a poet and author who has published two books of poetry; salt. and Nejma. While Waheed is a reclusive writer who doesn’t reveal many details about her life, her poetry is frequently shared through social media accounts. Her poetry is known for being “short and minimalistic” and “incredibly touching” and covering topics such as love, identity, race, and feminism.

Cleo Wade (@cleowade)

Cleo Wade is a friend, community builder, and the author of the bestselling books, Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life and Where to Begin: A small book your power to create big change. She has been called the poet of her generation by Time Magazine and one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company. Cleo sits on the board of The Lower East Side Girls Club, the National Black Theatre in Harlem, the Women’s Prison Association. When Cleo is not at home in California with her partner, Simon Kinberg, and their daughter, Memphis, she can be found traveling around the country on her sold-out book tours, which have become a safe space to laugh, cry, hug, and offer support to fellow readers.