April Is National Poetry Month

I mentioned to you in my first blog that April is National Poetry Month. Since poetry is one of my favorite topics, I have purposely waited to talk about National Poetry Month, savoring it as something we could look forward to together. Now, the month has almost passed us by. So today, without any further ado, let us talk poetry.

Poets.org is the place to visit for all things National Poetry Month. I'm quite impressed with the website design, its ease of reference, and all of the great things found there. You can search by poem, poet, movement, etc. There are t-shirts and posters. There is much to be excited by.

They also answer frequently asked questions, and one I bet you have is "why April"?

Why was April chosen for National Poetry Month?
With input from booksellers,librarians, poets, and teachers, the Academy chose a month during the school year so that schools and students could participate fully. February is Black History Month and March is Women's History Month, so April seemed a logical choice. Also, there are many wonderful poetic references to April:

T. S. Eliot wrote, "April is the cruelest month." It is our hope that National Poetry Month lessens that effect.

On a lighter note, Chaucer wrote:

Whan that April with his showres soote
The droughte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veine in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flowr

Finally, Edna St. Vincent Millay asked, "To what purpose, April, do you return again?" For National Poetry Month, of course!

For your reading convenience, I'm going to share three poems in celebration of National Poetry Month: a classic author, a newer author, and me! Since this is a longer blog and the poems will also use lots of blog space, it will be easier on your poetry eyes if I post separately.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!