Since its inauguration by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, April has been recognized as National Poetry Month, so now is the perfect time to reflect on the richness of poetry and the many ways it enhances our lives. Literary journals and websites offer an abundance of suggestions for celebrating poetry this month; I’ve listed a few of my favorites here:
Sign up to receive poem-a-day e-mails from the Academy of American Poets at www.poets.org. This is a great website to peruse!
Organize an open mic poetry reading or start a regular poetry reading group. Gather a group of friends at your local coffee shop, bookstore, art gallery, or bar and share your original or favorite poetry.
Become an expert on your favorite poet. If you have always loved the poetry of Robert Browning or Sara Teasdale or Sappho, read all or most of his or her poetry.
Subscribe to a poetry journal such as American Poet, American Poetry Review, or Poetry. For a comprehensive list of literary magazines and journals, visit www.newpages.com.
Discover a new favorite poet. In St. Louis last year, I discovered the evocative poetry of Li-Young Lee at the Sigma Tau Delta Convention. Lately I’ve been surprised and delighted by the formal, complex poems of celebrated playwrights Oscar Wilde and Tennessee Williams.
Learn and experiment with one or two traditional poetic forms. If you prefer to write in free verse, try writing a villanelle or rondeau.
If you typically write rhymed or formal poetry, play with free verse. With no structural rules to follow, you can focus solely on the rhythm and lyrical quality of your poetry.
Commit a few poems to memory. The Oxford Book of English Verse (edited by Arthur Quiller-Couch) and John Hollander’s Committed to Memory: One Hundred Best Poems to Memorize are terrific resources for this.
For more ideas and a calendar of poetry events near you, visit www.poets.org. Enjoy the month!
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