The Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month in April 1996 as a month-long celebration of poetry to bring together publishers, bookseller, literary organizations, libraries, teachers, schools, and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its important place in American culture.
At the Academy of American Poets’ website http://www.poets.org you can find a calendar and map of events throughout the country. There is also a “list of 30 ways” to celebrate – one for each day of the month. For teachers, there are free poetry lesson plans, curriculum units, and tip sheets. For librarians, there are tip sheets including ideas for book displays, programs and discussions, collection development, outreach, and marketing. For booksellers, there are tip sheets of ideas for marketing, merchandising, and special events.
For kids and teens who like writing funny poems, or just playing around with words, we suggest having fun with games and contests during poetry month at author Kenn Nesbitt’s “Poetry 4 Kids” website http://www.poetry4kids.com/
On April 30 the Academy invites everyone to celebrate “Poem in your Pocket Day” with great ideas at http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/406 for poets, literary organizations, and poetry lovers to get their favorite poetry out there in the public. The Academy website has a searchable database of many wonderful poems.
Here are the favorite poems of some of the staff and volunteers at Trellis Magazine, which we are planning to carry in our pockets on April 30:
Suzanne – “A Prayer for My Daughter” http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15530 by William Butler Yeats (stanzas)
Diane – “The Windhover” http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20311 by Gerard Manley Hopkins (Petrarchan sonnet)
Other volunteers:
“Shall I Compare Thee” http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15555 by William Shakespeare (Shakespearean sonnet)
“Ballade at Thirty-five” http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/1548.html by Dorothy Parker (ballade)
“Braiding” http://plagiarist.com/poetry/2798/ by Li-Young Lee (free verse)
“Easter Wings” http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/973.html by George Herbert (picture poem)
I invite you to send me a blog comment containing information on the favorite poem you plan to carry in your pocket!
I will be carrying “Renascence” by Edna St. Vincent Millay in my pocket tomorrow!
It’s the poem that started it all for me when I was 12 years old.
I perform it whenever the chance arises.