In 2024, Instagram isn’t just about pretty pictures and funny videos anymore. It’s become a surprising place to find some really good poetry. These Instagram poets, a blend of raw emotion and elegant simplicity, are redefining the essence of verse. They capture life’s complexities in a few, impactful lines, proving that true depth can thrive within the confines of Instagram’s cropped spaces.
Love Poetry Highlights
Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur, a name synonymous with contemporary poetry on Instagram, commands the attention of over 4.5 million followers in 2024. This Canadian poet, illustrator, and author, born in Punjab and raised in Canada, began captivating audiences with spoken word in 2009. Her rise to fame, fueled by the power of social media, notably Instagram, has made her a household name in modern poetry.
Her debut, “Milk and Honey,” self-published in 2014 and later a global sensation, explores themes of love, healing, and femininity with striking simplicity. Kaur’s work, marked by its relatable language and personal touch, often delves into South Asian identity, immigration, and personal experiences, accompanied by her signature line drawings.
Following her successful debut, Kaur continued to resonate with readers through “The Sun and Her Flowers” and “Home Body,” exploring growth, loss, and resilience. Despite mixed critical reception and some controversy, Kaur’s impact is undeniable. “Milk and Honey” alone has sold over 2.5 million copies in 25 languages and spent 77 weeks on the New York Times Best-Seller List, cementing her role as a pivotal figure in the landscape of modern poetry.
Read more Rupi Kaur Love Poems
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Lang Leav
Lang Leav, an Australian poet and novelist of profound depth, has a story as captivating as her poetry. Born in a Thai refugee camp to parents escaping Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge, she migrated to Australia in 1981. Leav’s work, celebrated for its simplicity, speaks universally of love, loss, and self-discovery.
Her debut, “Love & Misadventure” (2013), and the recent “Self-Love for Small-Town Girls” (2023), have struck a chord globally, resonating with their heartfelt exploration of relationships, heartbreak, and growth. Collections like “Lullabies” and “Memories” further showcase her talent for marrying emotional depth with relatable experiences, making her a beloved voice in contemporary poetry.
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R.H. Sin
R.H. Sin, also known as Reuben Holmes, shines as a beacon in the Instagram poetry world, captivating followers from his New York City base. A New York Times Best-Selling Author, his work resonates globally, delving into heartbreak, betrayal, and the pursuit of emotional intelligence and self-mastery.
His genre is contemporary poetry, where he skillfully explores emotions and experiences. His acclaimed “Whiskey, Words, & a Shovel” series, along with “Algedonic” and “Rest in the Mourning,” tackle love, pain, and resilience. Sin’s distinction comes from his straightforward style, making complex emotions accessible to a wide audience. As the highest-selling African American male in his genre for seven consecutive years, with over 20 books and 2 million copies sold, R.H. Sin’s work stands as a powerful testament to the enduring impact of simple, yet profound, poetic expression.
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Tyler Knott Gregson
Tyler Knott Gregson, an American poet and photographer from Helena, Montana, has been captivating social media audiences since 2009. His journey, rooted in sociology and criminology studies at the University of Montana, evolved into a profound expression of poetry and photography. Gregson’s fame soared with his unique “Typewriter Series,” born from an impromptu poem typed on an antique typewriter in 2012, showcasing his commitment to everyday poetic creativity.
His themes of love, hope, sadness, and wanderlust resonate with his substantial following on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, updated to 324,000 and 105K followers respectively in 2024. Gregson’s work has even garnered attention from celebrities, expanding his influence. Besides poetry, he co-founded a wedding photography company, Chasers of the Light, with his wife, Sarah Linden Gregson, further highlighting his artistic versatility. In a digital age, Tyler Knott Gregson stands as a symbol of authentic, heartfelt expression, blending words and images to capture the essence of human emotion.
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Beau Taplin
Beau Taplin, an author and social media phenomenon from Melbourne, captivates over 620K Instagram followers with his heartfelt content. At the core of Taplin’s philosophy is a simple yet profound belief: . This mantra infuses his work, urging us to embrace the limitless potential of our minds and spirits. As the author of works like “Bloom” and “Here at Dawn,” Taplin invites us to journey through life with passion and purpose, to seek out what truly matters, and to manifest it with all the fervor we possess.
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Life Reflection Poets
Morgan Harper Nichols
Morgan Harper Nichols is a versatile artist known for her work in music, writing, and mixed-media art. Born in 1990 in Los Angeles, she now resides there with her husband and son. Her creations, which explore themes of faith, hope, and personal growth, resonate with diverse audiences and are shared across various platforms, including her website and Instagram, where she has amassed 2M followers. Nichols is recognized as a leading figure in the “Instapoetry” movement, using her platform to inspire others through speaking engagements and workshops. She promotes self-love and positivity, making a significant impact in the creative community worldwide.
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Atticus Poetry
Atticus Poetry, known simply as Atticus, has crafted a unique niche in the world of Instagram poetry, captivating a staggering 1.6 million followers with their artful blend of words and visuals. Enigmatic and anonymous, Atticus chose the path of hidden identity since their poetic inception in 2013, a decision that symbolizes their belief in art’s purity, unmarred by the pursuit of fame. Residing in the scenic Vancouver, Canada, Atticus has become a symbol of art’s power to transcend identity.
Their work, encompassing bestsellers like “Love Her Wild,” “The Dark Between Stars,” “The Truth About Magic,” and “LVOE,” is a testament to their ability to touch hearts with simplicity and profundity. Atticus’s poems, often exploring love, strength, and the human spirit, are paired with visually appealing illustrations, making their social media presence not just a reading experience, but a visual journey.
Beyond poetry, Atticus is a voice for causes close to their heart, including mental health and support for military spouses. Their first TEDTalk in 2022, delivered as a digital avatar, further underscores their commitment to art’s essence over personal accolades. With an online store that extends their poetic expression into tangible keepsakes, Atticus Poetry isn’t just a poet; they are a movement, a quiet yet powerful force redefining the landscape of contemporary, social media-driven poetry. Their work resonates deeply with a global audience, proving that true art needs no face, only a heart that speaks and a spirit that listens.
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Nikita Gill
Nikita Gill, a British-Indian poet and illustrator, has garnered acclaim for her captivating poetry on social media, boasting 778K followers on Instagram. Residing in England, Gill’s work spans eight poetry volumes, including “Wild Embers” and “Fierce Fairytales,” where she explores themes of love, empowerment, and mythology with a feminist perspective. Her evocative language and vivid imagery deeply connect with readers, making her a prominent figure in modern poetry. Beyond her poetic endeavors, Gill has delivered a TEDx Talk, been featured at literary festivals, and authored verse novels and a children’s book titled “Animal Tales from India: Ten Stories from the Panchatantra.” Nikita Gill’s poetic voice resonates powerfully in today’s digital age, reflecting and celebrating diverse cultural narratives.
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Amanda Lovelace
Amanda Lovelace is a rising star in contemporary poetry, celebrated for her empowering and feminist-themed works. With 116K followers on Instagram as of 2024, her poetry resonates deeply, exploring themes of self-love, female empowerment, and reimagined fairytales. Based in New Jersey, Lovelace’s impact extends beyond her words, inspiring readers to embrace authenticity and self-acceptance in a world hungry for genuine voices.
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Yrsa Daley-Ward
Yrsa Daley-Ward is a multifaceted artist known for her diverse talents as a writer, poet, model, and actress. Born in 1989 in Lancashire, England, she was raised by her strict Seventh-Day Adventist grandparents, facing financial hardships and personal struggles in her youth. Her Jamaican mother and absent Nigerian father deeply influenced her upbringing and later became a source of inspiration for her work. Daley-Ward gained prominence with her poetry collection “Bone,” which she initially self-published and later gained critical acclaim after being republished by Penguin Books.
Her writing style is marked by lyrical language, vivid imagery, and a blend of personal experiences with broader social commentary. In addition to poetry, she authored the memoir “The Terrible,” which won the PEN/Ackerley Prize in 2019, and co-wrote the musical film “Black Is King” with Beyoncé. Recognized as a leading figure in the “Instapoetry” movement, Daley-Ward inspires readers through her candid social media presence, boasting 203K followers.
Her work resonates with diverse audiences, particularly those navigating personal struggles and seeking relatable voices. An advocate for mental health awareness, Daley-Ward encourages open conversations about challenging topics, serving as a role model for self-acceptance and personal growth.
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Karim Wafa Al-Hussaini
Karim Wafa Al-Hussaini, an Indigenous poet, artist, writer, and speaker with 25K followers, brings a unique perspective to his work. With a PhD in African-American History, he is also a historian, author, and lecturer. Karim hosts the podcast “Gahwa with Karim,” where he engages in insightful discussions. His poetry delves into themes of identity, culture, and social justice, offering profound reflections on the human experience. Through his artistry and scholarly background, Karim contributes to important conversations and sheds light on diverse perspectives.
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Societal Insight Poets
Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman, born in 1998, is a prominent American poet and activist known for her impactful contributions to literature and social justice. Rising to fame with her stirring poem, “The Hill We Climb,” delivered at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, Gorman has quickly become a cultural icon. Raised in Los Angeles, she overcame a speech impediment to pursue her passion for writing and public speaking. Graduating from Harvard University in 2020, she founded the non-profit “One Pen One Page,” offering free creative writing programs to underserved youth. Gorman’s poetry addresses themes of oppression, feminism, and racial justice, drawing inspiration from historical figures like Maya Angelou. Her clear language and powerful imagery resonate widely, making her work accessible to diverse audiences. Beyond poetry, Gorman has authored a children’s book and published “The Hill We Climb” in book form. As the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, Gorman’s message of unity and hope has inspired millions worldwide. With 3.7M followers on Instagram, she continues to advocate for social change, education, and literacy, cementing her status as a beacon of hope for future generations.
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Warsan Shire
Warsan Shire, born in 1988, is a Somali-British poet renowned for her impactful work exploring displacement, identity, womanhood, and the human experience. Raised in the UK after migrating from Kenya, her writing reflects the challenges of immigrants and refugees. Shire’s powerful language, vivid imagery, and personal narratives convey themes such as the refugee experience, identity, and love. Notably, her poem “No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark” became a symbol for refugees. She has won awards like the Brunel University African Poetry Prize and was London’s first Young Poet Laureate. Featured in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” her collections resonate globally, offering profound insights into the human condition. She has 142K followers on Instagram.
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