5 Female Poets From Different Eras That We Resonate With

Sylvia Plath once said Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences. She said it through work. Everything Plath wrote has touched my heart. I could relate so much when she said-

I can never read all the books I want; I can never be all the people I want and live all the lives I want. I can never train myself in all the skills I want. And why do I want? I want to live and feel all the shades, tones, and variations of mental and physical experiences possible in life. And I am horribly limited.

Isn't it intriguing? I was blown reading her works, it is not only her. Literature over the centuries has given us great authors. Despite not being allowed to educate, A few women created their own space in the field and left a legacy for generations. Like Sylvia Plath, many gave me purpose and helped me touch my own deep-down emotions. Let's atleast meet five female poets from different eras who used poetry as their genre to express their perspectives and still make complete sense. 

5 Female Poets From Different Eras 

Sylvia Plath

Plath was an American poet, who published her first poem at age 8. Plath through her poems showcased the conditions of women in the mid-20th century, that were affected by loneliness and alienation. Plath had academic, artistic, and social skills but still suffered from depression at a young age and also attempted suicide. Once Plath locked herself in a room and wrote a collection of poems. She converted her anxiety and loneliness into verses. A few verses also indicated her complicated relationship with her father. After this creative burst out she reportedly ended her life. Most of Plath’s poems were published years later after her death. Her most famous poems are Daddy and Lady Lazarus. 

Emily Dickinson

Dickinson was recognised for her distinct and extremely original writing style. American poets lived a secluded life, rarely mingled with the outside world. It is said that she produced approximately 1,800 poems, but only ten were published in her lifetime. The published ones were also substantially modified to fit the conventional poetic norms of the day. Dickinson's poetry delves into death, love, nature, and the self. Her verses are distinguished by their brevity, odd punctuation, and use of slant rhyme. Following her death, Dickinson's sister Lavinia found her enormous collection of poems and worked to have them published.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Browning was an English poet of the Victorian era. She was 11 when first started writing poetry. Browning was most admired for her liberty and courage in her views. Browning got married to a man who was attracted to her writing. It was her volume Poems (1844) that brought her huge success. Browning suffered great medical illness throughout her life. Apart from writing poems, she also dedicated her life to social services, like the abolition of slavery, and child labour legislation. Her life is reflected in her work. Her most well-known works are How Do I Love Thee and Aurora Leigh. The most beautiful fact is Browning was a great inspiration to Dickinson. 

Kamla Das 

Kamala Das was an Indian poet, who went by the pen name Madhavikutty. She is regarded as one of the most influential and divisive figures in Indian literature. Her writings frequently addressed love, sexuality, gender roles, and societal restraints. Das's poetry is distinguished by its raw and candid approach, in which she boldly revealed her emotions, wants, and experiences as a woman. Numerous literary accolades and honours have been bestowed upon Kamala Das, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Asian Poetry Prize. My favourite poem is An Introduction, where Das openly speaks of the restrictions put on her as a poet and the expectations from her as an Indian woman.

Nandini Sahu

Sahu is an Indian Poet and creative writer, born July 23, 1973. Currently, she is the Director, of the School of Foreign Languages and professor of English at Indira Gandhi National Open University. Sahu has great affection and admiration for literature, and that is why her works cover different kinds of literature. Her poetry has been published across the world, including US, UK, Africa, and Pakistan. She was awarded three gold medals in English Literature and the award of All India Poetry Contest in 1993. A few of her notable works include The Other Voice- a collection of poems, The Silence, Silver Poems on My Lips, Sita (A poem), and many others.

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