April is Poetry Month!
National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets. The concept is to widen the attention of individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern. We hope to increase the visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture while acknowledging and celebrating poetry’s ability to sustain itself in the many places where it is practiced and appreciated.
Now while initially an American holiday we can use Poetry Month as a way of sharing how we appreciate poetry- Aussie style!
Join us in the forums or our blog and share Poetry Month with us.
Further Information
Ideas to incorporate poetry into your lifestyle
Some ideas that homeschoolers can easily begin and continue are:
Start a Commonplace Book
Since the Renaissance, devoted readers have been copying their favorite poems and quotations into notebooks to form their own personal anthologies called commonplace books."
Read a book of poetry
"Poetry is a response to the daily necessity of getting the world right."
Memorize a poem
"Getting a poem or prose passage truly 'by heart' implies getting it by mind and memory and understanding and delight."
Revisit a poem
"America is a country of second acts, so today, why not brush the dust of these classics and give them a fresh read?"
Put poetry in an unexpected place
"Books should be brought to the doorstep like electricity, or like milk in England: they should be considered utilities."
Support literary organizations
"Many national and local literary organizations offer programs that reach out to the general public to broaden the recognition of poets and their work."
Google a poem
"Many people carry single lines of verse with them, sometimes for years, and are eager to remember the rest of that particular poem."
Hear a Poem
"Often, hearing an author read their own work can clarify questions surrounding their work's tone."
Subscribe to a literary magazine
"Full of surprising and challenging poetry, short fiction, interviews, and reviews, literary journals are at the forefront of contemporary poetry."
Put a poem in a letter
"It's always a treat to get a letter, but finding a poem in the envelope makes the experience extra special."
Take a poem out to lunch
"Adding a poem to lunch puts some poetry in your day and gives you something great to read while you eat."
Put a poem on the pavement
"Go one step beyond hopscotch squares and write a poem in chalk on your sidewalk."
Recite a poem to family and friends
"You can use holidays or birthdays as an opportunity to celebrate with a poem that is dear to you, or one that reminds you of the season."
Organize a poetry reading
"When looking for a venue, consider your local library, coffee shop, bookstore, art gallery, bar or performance space."
Promote public support for poetry
"Every year, Congress decides how much money will be given to the National Endowment for the Arts to be distributed all across America."
Start a poetry reading group
"Select books that would engage discussion and not intimidate the reader new to poetry."
Read some literary criticism
"Reading reviews can also be a helpful exercise and lend direction to your future reading."
Buy a book of poems for your library
"Many libraries have undergone or are facing severe cuts in funding. These cuts are often made manifest on library shelves."
"Poets.org lets users build their own personal portable online commonplace book out of the materials on our site."
Add verse to your email signature
"Many email programs allow you to create personalized signatures that are automatically added to the end of every email you send."
Celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day
"New Yorkers are encouraged to carry a poem in their pocket and share it with friends, family, coworkers and classmates."
