Not averse to a verse? National Poetry Month

In spring, a teacher’s fancy turns to thoughts of poetry.  Fortunately, April is National Poetry Month.

2012 National Poetry Month Poster, designed by Chin-Yee Lai – did you send off for your poster?  From ACA:  Sponsors:  The New York Times, National Endowment for the Arts, Random House, Inc., Merriam-Webster, EBSCO Publishing, and The Poetry FoundationThe 2012 poster features the line “…wait on the wind, catch a scent of salt, call it our life” from U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine‘s poem “Our Valley.”

What is it?

Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.

How to celebrate?  Read poetry. Use poetry in your classroom, or at your job. And don’t forget these other activities:

	Poem In Your Pocket Day: Thousands of individuals across the U.S. will carry a poem in their pockets on April 26, 2012.
	Poetry & the Creative Mind: Each April, The Academy of American Poets presents a star-studded celebration of American poetry.
	30 Poets, 30 Days: Throughout each day during National Poetry Month, a selected poet will have 24 hours to post on Tumblr an array of ephemera—in the form of text, images, audio, and video—before passing the baton.
	Poem-A-Day: Great poems from new books emailed each day of National Poetry Month. Sign up for your daily dose of new poems from new spring poetry titles.
	Spring Book List: Check out the new books of poetry available each spring.
	Poem Flow for iPhones: Available through the iTunes store, this innovative mobile app features daily poems presented as both fixed and animated text.
	National Poetry Map: Find out what is happening in your state by visiting our redesigned and updated National Poetry Map.

Surely you can find something fun to do.