National Poetry Month (USA)

The Academy of American Poets  was started in 1996 and with their award-winning website Poets.org, visitors can search through thousands of poems, check out hundreds of biographies, essays and interviews, as well as listen to recordings of their favourite poetry — which is being constantly up dated with new material. Also available are resources such as the National Poetry Map, and lesson plans for teachers. Poets.org receives a million visitors each month. Every April, The Academy holds it’s National poetry month, this was inspired by the success of Black History Month (Feb) and Women's History Month (March). In 1995 The Academy convened a group of publishers, booksellers, librarians, literary organizations, poets and teachers to discuss whether the same idea would work for poetry.

The first one was held in 1996 and now every year thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events all with the one aim – to celebrate poetry and it’s vital place in American culture.

Although I’m from Europe, this is my second year celebrating this wonderful excuse to promote Poetry, which I will do as I did last year with a favourite American poet, but after  that please check out the links below or click on the picture in the sidebar and, if you’re looking for more poetic inspiration go to Pomesallsizes, where you’ll find a wealth of resources in the form of  Poems, Anthologies, Links, Blogs etc.

Thanks, Parrish.

Robert Pinsky (born October 20, 1940) is an American poet, essayist, literary critic, and translator. From 1997 to 2000, he served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Pinsky is the author of nineteen books, most of which are collections of his own poetry. His published work also includes critically acclaimed translations, including a collection of poems by Czesław Miłosz and Dante Alighieri. He teaches at Boston University and is the poetry editor at Slate.

SAMURAI SONG
When I had no roof I made
Audacity my roof. When I had
No supper my eyes dined.

When I had no eyes I listened.
When I had no ears I thought.
When I had no thought I waited.

When I had no father I made
Care my father. When I had
No mother I embraced order.

When I had no friend I made
Quiet my friend. When I had no
Enemy I opposed my body.

When I had no temple I made
My voice my temple. I have
No priest, my tongue is my choir.

When I have no means fortune
Is my means. When I have
Nothing, death will be my fortune.

Need is my tactic, detachment
Is my strategy. When I had
No lover I courted my sleep.

© 2001, Robert Pinsky

Robert Pinsky(Wiki)

 What is National Poetry Month?: Frequently asked questions about NPM
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 30 Ways to Celebrate: A month's worth of poetry activities that any community can take part in.


Celebration Highlights: Reminisce about Academy events and promotions of Aprils past.




 Poetry & the Creative Mind: Each April, The Academy of American Poets presents a star-studded celebration of American poetry.



 30 Poets, 30 Days: Throughout each day during National Poetry Month, a selected poet will have 24 hours to tweet his or her daily insights before passing the baton.


 Poem-A-Day: Great poems from new books emailed each day of National Poetry Month. Sign up for your daily dose of new poems from new spring poetry titles.


 Spring Book List: Check out the new books of poetry available each spring.



 Poem Flow for iPhones: Available through the iTunes store, this innovative mobile app features daily poems presented as both fixed and animated text.



 Poem In Your Pocket Day: Thousands of individuals across the U.S. will carry a poem in their pockets on April 26, 2012.



 National Poetry Map: Find out what is happening in your state by visiting our redesigned and updated National Poetry Map.



 For Teachers: Creative and inexpensive suggestions for making poetry a more important part of school life during April and throughout the year.


 Poetry Read-a-thon: Instructions for motivating students to enjoy poetry in the classroom.




For Librarians: Low cost suggestions to develop greater visibility for poetry during April and throughout the year.



For Booksellers: Use these ideas during National Poetry Month and year-round to sell more poetry.


 Subscribe to Poets.org: Because poetry should be celebrated all year, Poets.org offers several ways to keep you informed and connected to the poetry world. Learn how you can subscribe to Poets.org Newsletters, RSS



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It is the job of poetry to clean up

our word-clogged reality

by creating silences

around things

Stephen Mallarme