Celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day

National Poetry Month is a time set aside for the enjoyment and appreciation of the art of poetry. Those who choose to participate in this April-celebration have a special opportunity to celebrate on Poem in Your Pocket Day. For 2009, Poem in Your Pocket Day is April 30.

Poem in Your Pocket Day was inspired by the poem "Keep a Poem in Your Pocket," written by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, a renowned children's literature author. The poem inspired the city of New York to begin Poem in Your Pocket Day in 2002, and has been celebrated annually ever since.

A lot of people celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day by carrying a favorite poem, or a selection of lines, in their pants or shirt pockets for their own pleasure and to share with friends. If you've done the same in the past, and want to try something new, check out these suggestions.

Poem in Your Cell

No, I'm not talking about a prison cell! Type out some lines from your favorite poem on your cell phone, and text it to your fellow poetry-lovers. Send it to friends who might not have an appreciation for poetry yet, too. To make a day of it type out several different messages containing different lines of poetry and save them to your drafts. Throughout the day, select a different message to send to a group of friends; or, send each message to a different group of people. Just make sure you're not racking up a huge cell phone messaging bill, for yourself or your friends!

Poem on Your Shirt

Using a website like Cafepress.com, or your own button-making kit, create poetry buttons to decorate your shirt, jacket, backpack, hat, et cetera. Put your favorite line of poetry, or a short poem like a haiku, on the button. Pin it in a visible place, so both you will be reminded of it all day and others can see and ask you about it!

Poem (Literally) in Your Pocket

This Poem in Your Pocket tip is for you crafters out there! Carefully cut out a pattern for a new pocket for a pair of pants, a tote bag, or a tee-shirt. Using a fabric pen that won't bleed through to the other side of your pocket, carefully write out a favorite poem; allow the ink to dry. On the other side, write in large letters "POEM POCKET," or any other fun name you come up with for it. After all the ink has dried on both sides, sew the new pocket onto your selected piece of apparel (make sure it's not something you really mind putting a new pocket on). Stick a couple copies of the poem you wrote in that pocket, so as people ask you about your new pocket you can share it with them!

Poems on a Line

Using colorful papers and fabrics, cut out several pocket shapes. Use pens, markers, and fabric paints to write several different poems on your cut-out pockets. Get a container of clothespins and write "Poem Pockets" or "Poem in Your Pocket," or any other creative names, on them; paint them first if you like, to add even more zest to your already colorful project. Using the clothespins, hang your poem pockets on a clothes line. Then hang the line somewhere where your friends and family, or even strangers, can take a poem. Hang it from your cubicle wall, or your office door. Hang it on your front door, or along the length of your fence. Encourage friends, family, strangers, coworkers, bosses, and mail carriers to take one as they pass. Show them how to clip the poem pocket to their shirts, jackets, or bags, or tell them to roll it up and put it in a pocket. You never know who will carry a poem, or how far a poem can go!