April is National Poetry Month--a tradition that was introduced by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and is celebrated today by poets, schools and literary organizations throughout the U.S. This April, I invite you to dip your cup into the poetry stream every day.
There are endless ways to tune into the poetry of your life. I offer here just a few of my favorites:
Participate in the April Poem A Day Challenge at Robert Lee Brewer's Poetic Asides blog. Not only does Robert Brewer offer an inspiring, inviting opportunity to get your pen moving every day, but this year you'll have a chance to see your work published in an e-book! (I'll be one of the guest judges.)
Sign up to receive the Academy of American Poets' Poem-a-Day email! Receive some of the best poems written this year by email every day!
Participate in Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 30. Carry your favorite poem around with you and share it with the people around you! If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I heartily encourage you to pick up a free Pocket Poem at Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts in Berkeley throughout the month of April! You can then share your Pocket Poem with friends, family, colleagues and strangers on April 30! If you're really, really lucky, you'll get one of Mari L'Esperance's gorgeous poems from her new book The Darkened Temple, winner of the 2008 Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry Series.
You could also let your eye wander over to the top, right hand column of this blog and fill in your email address where it says "Sign up for our email newsletter." This will subscribe you to the Writing the Life Poetic Zine, a fabulous new monthly publication published by yours truly. Launching in the next few weeks, the Writing the Life Poetic Zine will come directly to your email in-box, featuring some of Portland's most inspiring minds! I sure am grateful to have access to their wisdom, and I suspect you will be, too! Each issue will include: a writing prompt, interview of a poet-to-know, publishing recommendations, coaching tips on cultivating a poetry practice, wisdom about the poetic life, information and inspiration about cultivating poetic community, and so much more! Don't miss the April issue! Sign up now!
Want more ideas about how to read, write and enjoy poetry throughout April? Learn about 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month!
What else are you doing to fire up your poetry engines this month?
Hooray for National Poetry Month! If any of Sage's readers are in the SF Bay Area, they're invited to pick up a free Pocket Poem at Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts in Berkeley throughout the month of April! They can then share their Pocket Poem with friends and family on April 30.
http://www.poets.org/viewevent.php/prmEventID/7463
Happy NPM!
Posted by: Mari L'Esperance | April 01, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Happy Poetry Month, Sage! Hip-hip-hooray for Writing the Life Poetic. It's the perfect time to pick up your book for a poetry-loving friend. Can't wait to get my copies. :)
Posted by: The Writer Mama | April 01, 2009 at 07:51 PM