Lesbian poets have played a crucial role in shaping literature throughout history, from ancient Greece to modern times. Their voices have not only enriched poetry as an art form but also paved the way for LGBTQ+ representation in literature. This comprehensive list highlights some of the most famous lesbian poets whose work has impacted both literary history and the LGBTQ+ movement.
From Sappho, the first famous lesbian poet whose name became synonymous with female same-sex love, to contemporary voices like Carol Ann Duffy, Britain’s first openly gay Poet Laureate, these writers have contributed significantly to both poetry and lesbian visibility. Their works span various themes: love, identity, nature, politics, and personal struggles, offering diverse perspectives on the lesbian experience.
This article explores eight distinct categories of lesbian poets, featuring their most notable works and biographical details. Whether you’re interested in classical Greek poetry, 19th-century verses, modern expressions, or the powerful voices of Black lesbian poets, you’ll discover how these writers have influenced literature and society through their art.
In This Article
Greek Lesbian Poets
Sappho (630-570 BCE)
Notable Works:
- “If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho“
- “Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works“
- “Stung with Love: Poems and Fragments“
Biography:
The most famous Greek poet from the island of Lesbos, whose name inspired the terms “lesbian” and “sapphic.” Her poetry celebrates love between women and has influenced literature for over two millennia.
Erinna (350 BCE)
Notable Works:
- The Distaff (300-line hexameter poem)
- Several epigrams in the Greek Anthology
Biography:
A young Greek poet who died at 19, known for her emotionally intense poetry about female relationships, particularly her lament for her close friend Baucis.
Lesbian Poets 19th Century
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Notable Works:
- “The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson“
- “Selected Poems & Letters“
- “Open Me Carefully: Emily Dickinson’s Intimate Letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson“
Biography:
A reclusive American poet whose intimate letters and poems to Susan Gilbert Dickinson reveal deep romantic feelings. Her work contains coded references to same-sex love.
Amy Lowell (1874-1925)
Notable Works:
- “Selected Poems of Amy Lowell“
- “Complete Poetical Works“
- “What’s O’Clock” (Pulitzer Prize Winner)
Biography:
American Imagist poet who lived openly with her partner Ada Russell. Won the Pulitzer Prize posthumously and challenged conventional poetry forms.
Related:
Michael Field (Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper)
Notable Works:
- “Long Ago“
- “Sight and Song“
- “Works and Days” (journals)
Biography:
Aunt and niece who lived together as partners and wrote poetry under the pen name Michael Field, celebrating their relationship while maintaining public discretion.
Charlotte Mew (1869-1928)
Notable Works:
Biography:
British poet who dressed in male clothing and wrote about unrequited love for women. Virginia Woolf called her “the greatest living poetess.”
Black Lesbian Poets
Audre Lorde (1934-1992)
Notable Works:
- “The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde“
- “Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches“
- “Zami: A New Spelling of My Name“
Biography:
Self-described “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” who wrote about intersectionality before the term existed. Her work addresses racism, sexism, and homophobia.
Pat Parker (1944-1989)
Notable Works:
Biography:
Pioneer Black lesbian feminist poet who wrote openly about her experiences during the Civil Rights era, addressing both racism and homophobia.
Staceyann Chin (1972-present)
Notable Works:
Biography:
Jamaican-American performance poet and LGBT activist whose work addresses sexuality, politics, and identity.
Cheryl Clarke (1947-present)
Notable Works:
Biography:
Influential poet and essayist whose work focuses on Black lesbian feminism and activism. Her poetry explicitly addresses lesbian identity within the context of Black culture.
Nikki Giovanni (1943-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Though not exclusively identifying as lesbian, her poetry explores same-sex love and has been influential in Black lesbian literary circles.
Alexis De Veaux (1948-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Poet and biographer who explores Black lesbian identity and feminist thought in her work.
Related:
First Lesbian Poet
Sappho (630-570 BCE)
Notable Works:
- “If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho“
- “Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works“
- “Stung with Love: Poems and Fragments“
Biography: The most famous Greek poet from the island of Lesbos, whose name inspired the terms “lesbian” and “sapphic.” Her poetry celebrates love between women and has influenced literature for over two millennia.
Katherine Philips (1632-1664)
Notable Works:
- “The Collected Works of Katherine Philips“
- “Poems by the Most Deservedly Admired Mrs. Katherine Philips“
Biography: Known as “The Matchless Orinda,” she was the first modern English poet to write openly about romantic friendship between women, using classical allusions.
Elsa Gidlow (1898-1986)
Notable Works:
- “On a Grey Thread” (first openly lesbian poetry book in North America)
- “Elsa: I Come With My Songs” (autobiography)
Biography: Published the first volume of openly lesbian love poetry in North America (1923). Lived openly as a lesbian throughout her life.
Lesbian Cancer Survivor Poets
Audre Lorde (1934-1992)
Notable Works:
- “The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde“
- “Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches“
- “Zami: A New Spelling of My Name“
Biography: Wrote powerfully about her experience with breast cancer, challenging medical establishment while connecting her survival to her identity as a Black lesbian.
Ellen Bass (1947-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Cancer survivor whose poetry explores healing, sexuality, and relationships. Co-authored “The Courage to Heal.”
Marilyn Hacker (1942-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Her experience with breast cancer influenced collections like “Winter Numbers,” exploring mortality and resilience while maintaining her focus on lesbian identity.
Victoria Brownworth (1955-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Lesbian journalist and poet who writes about surviving cancer and its impact on lesbian identity.
Modern Lesbian Poets
Carol Ann Duffy (1955-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Britain’s first openly gay Poet Laureate (2009-2019). Her work revolutionized how lesbian love could be expressed in mainstream poetry.
Adrienne Rich (1929-2012)
Notable Works:
Biography: One of the most influential lesbian poets of the 20th century, came out in the 1970s and wrote extensively about lesbian experience.
Mary Oliver (1935-2019)
Notable Works:
- “American Primitive” (Pulitzer Prize winner)
- “New and Selected Poems“
- “House of Light“
Biography: Lived with her partner Molly Malone Cook for over 40 years. Her nature-focused poetry contains subtle references to lesbian love.
Cherrie Moraga (1952-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Chicana poet and feminist who writes about intersections of gender, sexuality, and race. Her poetry explores lesbian identity within Latino culture.
Related:
Minnie Bruce Pratt (1946-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Lost custody of her children in the 1970s for being a lesbian. Her poetry addresses motherhood, sexuality, and social justice.
Joan Larkin (1939-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Open lesbian poet whose work addresses sexuality, addiction recovery, and lesbian relationships with unflinching honesty.
American Lesbian Poets
Judy Grahn (1940-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Pioneering lesbian feminist poet who helped establish the Women’s Press Collective. Her work combines scholarship with poetry, exploring lesbian cultural history.
Eileen Myles (1949-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: A groundbreaking voice in contemporary poetry who has been openly lesbian throughout their career. Their work challenges traditional poetry forms.
Julie R. Enszer (1964-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Contemporary lesbian poet and scholar who edits Sinister Wisdom, one of the longest-running lesbian literary journals.
Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979)
Notable Works:
Biography: Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who maintained long-term relationships with women, including Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares. Her work often uses geography and travel as metaphors for personal exploration.
European Lesbian Poets
Renée Vivien (1877-1909)
Notable Works:
Biography: Known as the “New Sappho,” she wrote primarily in French and lived openly as a lesbian in Paris. Her translations of Sappho helped revive interest in the ancient poet’s work.
Jackie Kay (1961-present)
Notable Works:
Biography: Scottish poet and novelist who served as Scots Makar (national poet of Scotland). Her work explores identity as a Black Scottish lesbian adopted by white parents.
Olga Broumas (1949-present)
Notable Works:
- “Beginning with O” (Yale Younger Poets Prize)
- “Rave: Poems“
- “Sappho’s Gymnasium“
Biography: Greek-American poet whose work explicitly celebrates lesbian sexuality, often through mythological references. Her translations of Greek poetry have earned significant recognition.
Sophia Parnok (1885-1933)
Notable Works:
- “Collected Poems”
- “The Pulse of Time”
Biography: Known as the “Russian Sappho,” she wrote openly about lesbian love in early 20th century Russia.
Anna Margolin (1887-1952)
Notable Works:
- “Lider” (Poems)
- “Selected Poetry and Prose”
Biography: Yiddish poet who wrote about female desire and same-sex love, breaking traditional Jewish literary conventions.
For more inspiration from these remarkable poets, check out our collections of Lesbian Love Poems and Famous Lesbian Literature Through History. Many of these books are available through major retailers, and their work continues to inspire new generations of writers and readers.
Further Reading
