Here's what Poets.org has to say about the event:
National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.
Basically, it's an entire month dedicated to poetry in all its forms.
I won't lie. Poetry can sometimes feel elitist, which means that too many people avoid it. They don't write it, for fear of being judged. They don't read it, because they're afraid they won't "get it." National Poetry Month is all about calling bullshit on those preconceptions.
Poetry isn't just for elitist snobs, or teenage girls, or stuffy Victorians in ruffled shirts or any of the other stereotypes we use to convince ourselves that poetry isn't for us. Poetry is for everyone and can be found in everything -- we just need a little reminder of that sometimes.
That's what we're celebrating this month: poetry in nature, in life, in ourselves and in each other. Even if you think that you can't "do" poetry or don't "get" poetry, I challenge you to give it a try, anyway, this month. Join me in celebrating National Poetry Month this April.
No comments:
Post a Comment