Reading and reciting poems has been a time-honored tradition in many households around the country for centuries. Many of these poems are lyrical, tell a story, or provide an affirmation for the family.

You can use holidays or birthdays as an opportunity to celebrate with a poem that is dear to you, or one that reminds you of the season. Ask older relatives and friends about the poems they learned in grade school or the poets that were in vogue when they were in college. How about reading a poem to start the school day, perhaps as part of the morning announcements? Poetry 180, a program started by Billy Collins while he was U.S. Poet Laureate, provides poem geared toward high school students, one for every day in the school year. Many families offer grace around the dinner table—consider adding a poem to this family ritual. Introduce poems into your night-time reading with your children. If you examine the rituals of your daily life, there will be many opportunities to pause and reflect with poetry.