BW15: National Poetry Month goes international.

Courtesy of Poets.org

In April 1996 the National Poetry Month was established by the Academy of American Poets for the purpose of introducing more people to the pleasures of reading poetry and to appreciate the achievements of American poets.  This year's celebration include the Dear Poet project and invites students to watch the chancellors read a poem, then write a letter in response.  The poster was created by graphic designer Paula Scher.  It celebrates typography and is concrete poetry and evokes Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass.

Included in the list of 30 ways to celebrate are

·         Buy a book of poetry 

·         Attend a poetry reading

·         reading Edward Hirsch’s essay “How to Read a Poem.

·         Read Allen Ginsberg’s classic essay about Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.” 

·         Recreate a poet’s favorite food or drink by following his or her recipe.

·         Watch or read Carolyn Forche’s talk “Not Persuasion, But Transport: The Poetry of Witness.”

·         Read or listen to Mark Doty’s talk “Tide of Voices: Why Poetry Matters Now.”

·         Write a poem of your own. 

Poetry is a way of celebrating and/or processing emotions: from the happy - full of laughter, to the sad - filled with angst, to the mad - fit to burst.  Npr's 2018 Poetry review runs the gamut of emotions with their selection of powerful books of poetry with The Personal is Always Political.  

According to Bustle, these are the 18 poets you need to read in 2018. 

Take a peek at the poets involved in Versefest 2018,  Ottawa’s annual International Festival of Poetry, which took place a couple weeks ago.  

We mustn't forget to celebrate English Poets and Poetry as well as other international poets including Icelandic poets such as Vatnsenda-Rósa,  Magnús Sigurðsson or  Gyrðir Elíasson, or  Gerður Kristný.  Don't forget to check out Hello Poetry's selection of Icelandic Poems.

Want to try your hand at translating a poem? Participate (online or personally) in the the poetry translation project - In Other Words - at the 49th Poetry International Festival taking place in Rotterdam on May 29th through June 3^rd.

Celebrate poetry with me this month and read a poem or book of poems or read about the life of a poet. Try your hand at writing a poem and try different forms  including  haiku, free verse, sonnet or verse.

Blank 

What do you see,

When you draw a blank?

Letters, foggy and fuzzy

 Roam and flee.

Words, simple.

Yet not.

Like butterflies waiting to land.

Do you catch them or wait?

They sit on the tip of your tongue.

On the back of your hand.

Rhythm and rhyme,

Let it be.

Make you see.

Take your time.

Words, simple.

Yet not.

Pens bleed

Across the page.

Strokes and symbols

Take on need.

Blank and blind

Thoughts and letters,

Illuminate and illustrate

What comes to mind.

Words, simple.

Yet not.

~by Robin M~

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