National Poetry Month!

April is National Poetry Month!

I want to direct poetry fans to the Academy of American Poets for a plethora of materials to celebrate National Poetry Month.

One especially wonderful celebration takes place on April 14: Poem in Your Pocket Day! Everyone from students to business people are encouraged to put a favorite poem in their pockets and share the poem with friends, family, colleagues, etc. I'm hoping to have a "Poem in Your Pocket Day" at our home school co-op which just happens to be...April 14!

As much as I would like to join National Poetry Writing Month or other poetry-writing activities, I have far too much going on this month to compose poetry regularly.

So, in the spirit of National Poetry Month, I am posting a link to my favorite poem, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot (as it's too long to post here).

My favorite poet, e.e. cummings, wrote my second favorite poem, which I am posting below for your enjoyment:

anyone lived in a pretty how town
anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did.

Women and men (both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed (but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
with by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men (both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

So enjoy National Poetry Month!!! And I would LOVE to hear what your favorite poem is--please comment!

Poetically yours (especially this month),