This month, we’re focusing on poetry written by women around the world.

Women have always had stories to tell—about their families, their communities, their struggles, and their hopes. But for a long time, many women didn’t have the chance to share their voices publicly. In some places, they weren’t allowed to write or go to school. In others, their writing was ignored or dismissed.

Even so, women kept writing.

They wrote poems about motherhood, war, work, love, and freedom. They used poetry to protest unfair treatment, to share their feelings, and to connect with others. And today, those poems help us understand what life has been like for women in different parts of the world.

Some of the poets you’ll meet this month come from countries that are far from your own. Others may feel more familiar. But each of them has something powerful to say, and they say it in their own unique way.

As we read their poems, you’ll notice:

• Some poems are soft and quiet.
• Some are bold and loud.
• Some are full of questions.
• Some are full of strength.

There’s no single way to be a woman, and there’s no single way to write poetry. That’s what makes this month’s theme so powerful.

What do you think poetry can do that regular writing (like stories or essays) can’t?