Parenthood in Verse: Must-Read Poetry for Every Parent

Today we are celebrating National Poetry Day! There is something about poetry that uniquely captures the joys, challenges, and transformative moments of parenthood. Whether you have 2 minutes between jobs, or 45 minutes trapped under a sleeping baby, poetry can fit! And no matter what your mood, there's a poem for you - laugh out loud, sob your heart out, or take a deep relaxing breath.

To start you off on your poetic adventure, we’ve curated a list of must-read poetry books that beautifully reflect the themes of parenthood, kids, and the evolving dynamics of family life. Happy reading!

• Night Feeds and Morning Songs – Ana Sampson

• A Mother’s Birth - Maria Tempany

• A love so strong – Maria Tempany

• The Republic of Motherhood – Liz Berry

• Solidarity – Chaneen Saliee

• Tiny Lungs – Joanna Bennett

• Songs of Love and Strength – An anthology of Poems on Motherhood – Edited by Katharine Perry

• Mum Poem Press books

  • Why Mums are Amazing

  • Guide to Self Care

  • Choices

  • Lullabies for new mums

• I am a spider mother – Flora Cruft

• The Newborn Mother - Kate Thirlwall and Tim Smyth

• Nobody Told Me – Hollie McNish

• Boom! – Carolyn Jess-Cooke

• Motherhood: Poems about Mothers – Carmela Ciuraru

• Twenty-Nine: Poems on Motherhood – Annie Ridout

• Warm like summer – Karen McMillan

• What kind of woman – Kate Baer

• No walk in the park – Jemma Chawla

• Buried in the margins – Keri Folsom

• Nothing is Yours – Caitlin Kendall

• Witch Mother Child Lover – Jen Corcoran

• Home Baked – Ellen Clayton

• Bathroom Prisoners – Laura Lewis-Waters

• Will I ever pee alone again? – Emma Conway

• Moon Milk – Rachel Bower

• Mother, nature – Aoife Lyall

• Mother Self – Madhushala Senaratne

• Messy – poems about motherhood – Susie B.

• Keen Observer – Harry Barden

• I have no idea what I’m doing – poems on pregnancy and motherhood – Grace Pilkington

Other resources

@themumpoempress is in hibernation at the moment but they have some gorgeous posts to read and poetry writing prompts still visible on their Instagram.

Maternal Journal is a global community movement that uses creative journaling to boost wellbeing in pregnancy, birth and parenthood. Maternal Journal publishes free journaling resources and guided exercises introduce different creative styles and techniques to help you get started. Watch this space for Baby Umbrella Maternal Journal sessions coming soon.

Thank you to Nicola Kirkwood, one of our trustees and @creativemedicmum for compiling this list.