Poetry Month

Poetry Month - April 2024

Hobbies & Activities

Poetry is all about exploring the ways writing can communicate to the world. With various poets and more popping up in the limelight, it can be hard to keep up with the latest in poetry.

From old to new, Poetry Month celebrates the art of poetry in all its forms, appreciating the history behind it. It also celebrates the lives of poets that inspired it and forming a new generation of poets to change the landscape of the literary world.  

History of Poetry Month

This holiday was Inspired by the success of Black History Month and Women’s History Month. The Academy of American Poets brought together publishers, poets, and literary organizations to discuss the usefulness of celebrating poetry in 1995. The Academy of American Poets inaugurated poetry Month in 1996.

Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world. Schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s important place in our culture. In 2001, within the few years of the holiday being celebrated, the Academy distributed over 100,000 books of poetry free from New York to California during the month.

Each year, an exclusive poster is commissioned and distributed to schools, libraries, and community centers. The Academy also invited people to vote for which poets should get their customized postage stamp. There were over 10,000 casted ballots, and Langston Hughes received the most votes.

Each year, posters are commissioned by the Academy and distributed to schools, libraries, and community centers for free. Publishers throughout the month acknowledge Poetry Month by publishing compilations of poetry.

They would then distribute them to bookstores and libraries all over the world. Throughout the month, students are introduced to a variety of different poetic forms and poets from all kinds of schools.

Poetry Month is a time to discuss the art form, debate it, and learn from the poets of the past. All of this while inspiring younger generations to create the poetry that allows them to express themselves and their experiences.

How to Celebrate Poetry Month

Celebrate Poetry Month by hosting your poetry events. Read online some poets from the Academy of American Poets’ database and take the month to read a poem once a day.

Start a local poetry club for people in your community to meet up with poet lovers and schedule meeting dates to discuss poetry. Attend other events in your community, display the Academy’s yearly poster, sign up for a slam poetry event at your local club, and share this holiday with your friends and family.

Also on Mon Apr 1, 2024...

Fun Day
Apr 01