Easy Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month
April is a month for celebrations, new beginnings, rededication to your hobbies, and overall life wellness. It’s National Welding Month, Mathematics Awareness Month, Stress Awareness Month, and Records and Information Month, but don’t forget the written word! The Collegiate Communities Blog is focusing on National Poetry Month.
Established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, this event has grown to become the largest literary celebration in the world. Participants include readers, students, teachers, librarians, publishers, bloggers, and of course, poets.
Whether you’re a dedicated member of any of the above or you simply want to fill your world with beauty, try poetry this month. We have simple but fun suggestions that can enrich your life this month and always.
Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month
— Chalk a poem on the sidewalk.
— Attend a poetry reading at a local university, bookstore, cafe, or library.
— Sign up for a poetry class or workshop in the West Lafayette, IN area.
— Watch a movie about poetry or a poet. We suggest Dead Poets Society, Shadowlands, or Wilde.
— Read Allen Ginsberg’s classic essay about Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.”
— Host a poetry reading at your Collegiate Communities apartment! Head to a local coffee shop or other gathering space if you want more room for your guests. Try these ideas about how to set up a poetry reading night for a successful evening.
Poetry Quotes
Many writers, philosophers, and artists have expressed their thoughts about poetry. These are some of our favorites:
â The true poem rests between the words. â Vanna Bonta
â My role in society, or any artist or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all. – John Lennon
â Poetry is the journal of a sea animal living on land, wanting to fly in the air. â Carl Sandburg
What’s your favorite poem? Share in the comments so we can enjoy it, too. Happy Poetry Month. Thanks for reading!