Today kicks off the largest literary celebration in the world, with everyone from schools and libraries to publishers and booksellers recognizing the vital role of poetry in our culture. Whether you’re a new writer, established writer, reader, teacher, or newcomer to the art form, we have a number of ways for you to join in the celebration this month.
For educators who are looking to bring poetry into the classroom, we have a diversity of lesson plans and Dear Poet, a multimedia education project that invites students to write letters in response to poems written and read by our Chancellors.
For New York-based poetry fans, we host a range of special events and readings, including our star-studded Poetry & the Creative Mind gala at Lincoln Center.
This month we’ll also be introducing our Read This Poem project. This project, the result of a partnership with 826 National, aims to highlight the work of regional poets and encourage these poets to give back to their literary community by then sharing their talents with students. Keep an eye on Stanza this month, as every Wednesday we will unveil the next round of selected poems and poets.
As the finale to our National Poetry Month celebration this year, we encourage you to keep your favorite verses handy for Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 30.
If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate in your own town, visit our Poetry Near You page to browse events. Don’t forget to sign up to receive poetry in your inbox with Poem-a-Day.
For more on National Poetry Month and other news and programming, follow us at @POETSorg and join the conversation with #npm15.