April is National Poetry Month: Ten Ways to Celebrate

The Academy of American Poets founded National Poetry Month in April in 1996 to celebrate the art of poetry, encourage greater exposure to it in the schools, and to increase its overall impact on the culture of the nation. According to the Academy's official website (http://www.poets.org), the goals of National Poetry Month are as follows:

* Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets

* Introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry

* Bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways

* Make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum

* Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media

* Encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books

* Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry

The merits of the month-long celebration are a topic of much debate among poets themselves. Some praise the month as a saviour of the art, others decry it as actually harmful. Some are indifferent. But whatever your personal feelings about this month, few will deny that it is difficult to escape it. Nationwide, schools, libraries, bookstores, coffee shops, slam houses, writer's groups and organizations, and individuals are all tooting poetry's horn.

How can you get in on the fun? Here are ten simple ways to contribute to the joy of National Poetry Month, April 2008:

Obtain an official poster advertising the event from the Academy by visiting their website and buying one (or if you are a student or an organization you can request a free copy). Hang it up in your school, place of work, in a window of your home, or donate it for use by your local library. Whatever you do with it, make it visible to the public at large.

Donate to your favorite writer's causes and/ or organizations. You don't have to be wealthy to help support the arts. All you need is a little passion and conviction concerning how art (and, in this case, poetry) improves the lives of those it touches in myriads of invaluable and sometimes subtle ways. Even if you only have a fiver to spare, most institutions are very pleased to have that bit of support, to keep art a presence in this hectic, utilitarian modern life. You can also donate to the Academy itself to keep National Poetry Month going or become a member of the Academy. Details concerning those opportunities can be found at their website.

Sign up to receive the Poem-A-Day emails from the Academy and pass along your favorites to your contacts list. This is sure to motivate, inspire, and encourage someone you love. And it spreads the art of poetry to all your friends!

Post your favurite poem- perhaps even one you wrote yourself- in a prominent place in your town. This could be on a community bulletin board, on the door or wall of your cubicle at work, in the back window of your car, or wherever. Get creative with this one!

Organize a local poetry event. This could be lending a helping hand with a full-scale festival, or just a small reading of your friends' or even your own work at your local library or coffee shop. Maybe you could contribute your energies to organizing or promoting a local slam or open mic. Again, be creative with this one. There's no shortage of ways to get something started!

Attend a book sale of local authors and poets. Bring a friend or two. These sales are often accompanied by workshops and/or readings, and on occasion there may even be music. You may be pleasantly surprised at just how proliferate and talented your local literary scene is. Or you may become aware of more effective ways to help it grow. Maybe you'll come away with some really fantastic books to read that you otherwise would never have realized were out there. At the very least, you'll come away with a few autographs perhaps and a new appreciation of literature and of your own community.

Attend a poetry reading, slam, or open mic. Often a lot of work, time, and money go into sponsoring these events. Sometimes this comes from the pockets of the poets who participate. Show them some love by going by and seeing what they have to offer. Sometimes these types of events also allow you to buy books, there are often signings, sometimes there are refreshments for your tummy, and usually they also allow you the opportunity to mingle with the poets as if they were your best buddies. Priceless!

Go to the Academy's website and offer your favorite lines of poetry as part of their Life Lines project. There you can post your favourite lines, who wrote them, and a brief paragraph as to just why exactly they are so special to you. Yes, this is an opportunity to gush and you won't be made fun of. There really is a shortage of such opportunities in the world, aren't there?

Host a Poetry Party. Invite your friends over for a pleasant night of food, drink, and poetry. They can write one themselves or just bring their favourite poem. And no, your friends (or yourself) do not need to be poets to do this. Who cares if the poems aren't "good"? It's all about getting together, having a good time, and enjoying language. If your friends do happen to have a literary bent, you can make it challenging by assigning a theme. Or you could play Poetry Charades: everyone writes a line or two and puts it in a hat or bowl. It can be as silly or refined as one wants. Then take turns drawing a line and writing a poem (or making one up orally) that contains those lines. This could also be a great place to get creative. Buy a bottle of wine, pass it around, and have fun!

Don't forget Poem-in-your-Pocket Day (April 17, 2008)! The premise is simple. Pick any poem and put it in your pocket. Show it to or read it to everyone you meet on April 17^th, whether it's at a restaurant, a doctor's office, at work, or at your kid's ball practice. You can also text and email the poem to your friends, and post it at your favorite internet forums. A simple and fun way to spread the love! Even kids can celebrate this way with no hassle and no cost.

National Poetry Month is enjoying its 13^th celebration this year and past years have been exciting. Some of the ways the Academy has celebrated in the past are nothing short of amazing. For instance, in 1998 was the Great APLseed Giveaway, when 100,000 free books of poetry were handed out across the country. 2001 saw the inauguration of the American Poet Stamp Project, putting the faces and names of some of America's most beloved poets on first-class mail everywhere. New American Poet stamps have been issued to coincide with National Poetry Month every year since then. To mark its 10^th anniversary in 2005, the Empire State Building was lit up in blue on the night of April 5^th. The Poetry Read-a-Thon was first launched in 2006 and continues every April in schools throughout the U.S.

You can be a part of this growing phenomenon in many ways. This list of ten ways to celebrate is just a starting point. Be inventive and share with the world the new and exciting ways you find to celebrate National Poetry Month April 2008!