April Is Poetry Month
Observed each April, National Poetry Month the largest literary commemoration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s prominent place in our culture and our lives.
While poets and poetry are celebrated, the Academy of American Poets was inspired by the successful commemorations of Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March), and founded National Poetry Month in April 1996 with the goals to:
- highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets,
- encourage the reading of poems,
- assist teachers in bringing poetry into their classrooms,
- increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media,
- encourage increased publication and distribution of poetry books, and
- encourage support for poets and poetry.
Whether you write poetry or not, there are many ways to participate and discover the joys of poetry. Here are just a few:
- Attend Poetry & the Creative Mind, a celebration of poetry from the reader’s perspective featuring leading and luminary actors, artists, and public figures, which takes place each April in New York City.
- Participate in National Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 26.
- Sign up for Poem-a-Day.
- Join the Academy of American Poetsand show your support year-round for poets and poetry.
- Share your photos and feedback about your National Poetry Month celebrations with the Academy of American Poets by emailing npm@poets.org.
Leave a comment below if you have any other thoughts or questions!