National Poetry Month was inaugurated in April 1996 by the prestigious Academy of American Poets. Its modest objective was to bring together publishers, booksellers, libraries, literary organizations, schools and poets in an consolidated push for poetry. It’s vision today is what it was back then: to advocate for poetry in such a way that it is maintained as a vital part of American culture.
From Modest Beginnings
Inspired by the success of Black History Month, organizers of National Poetry Month or NPM have seen its initial attempts become an integrated part of American literary life. Beginning with what by today's standards seems modest in 1998 100,000 free books of poetry were sent from New York to California during National Poetry Month. On April 22 of that year, President Clinton and then First Lady Hillary hosted a first gala event to honor Poets Laureate Robert Pinsky, Rita Dove, and Robert Haas.
In 2001 the Academy set off a nationwide campaign in which people were invited to vote for the poet they wanted to have on a postage stamp. Langston Hughes received the honor and a stamp was issued with him on it in January 2002. In 2005, during the month of April the Empire State Building was illuminated in blue lights.
Established Part of American Culture
National Poetry Month has continued to grow and become an established part of national life affecting schools, libraries, literary organizations and the like. The focus of the entire month is to promote poetry through institutional and private venues. As a result of these many efforts it is a given that publishers will release and publicize their poetry in April; classroom teachers write their lesson plan around poetry that month; poetry workshops throughout the public schools has become de rigeur in many regions; public libraries promote poetry through readings and feature special classes and presentations by local poets; and bookstores, large and small, promote poetry on their shelves and offer poetry reading series for published poets.
Goals of Academy of American Poetry
The goals of National Poetry Month as stated by the Academy of American Poetry are as follow:
- Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
- Introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry
- Bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways
- Make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum
- Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
- Encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books
- Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry
Unique Activities and Events
Poetry events such as these continue to expand. What follows is a breakdown of some of the major highlights:
1. Poem for your Pocket in which everyone is invited to select a favorite poem and carry it with them throughout the day to share with co-workers, family and friends. The hope is that thousands of poems from thousands of pockets will be unfolded and read aloud that day, April 31.
2. Poem-A-Day in which everyone who signs up will have a poem free of charge delivered to their in-box. Sponsored by the Academy's NPM website, Poets.org people are invited to go their and sign up.
3. Free-Verse Project in which everyone is invited again to choose a favorite poem and inscribe it in their environment either by writing it on a sidewalk, drawing it in the sand (for those lucky enough to live near a beach), or arrange it using twigs and sticks from the forest. Then a photo is taken which is posted on the Free-Verse page in Flickr or at the Academy’s Fan Page on Face Book. All poems posted by April 15th can be among those selected to be in the Poem in Your Pocket Anthology.
4. Poetry Readathon: Students choose a poem and write a 75 to 100 word response which will be posted online and winners will be entered in the Poem-a-Day Anthology.
5. Poetry and the Creative Mind 2009: In New York City at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall there will be held by 7th Annual Benefit gathering of creative minds for a gala concert and reading. This years’ presenters include: Joan Baez, Roy Blount, Mia Farrow, Jorie Graham, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mark Strand, Zadie Smith, and Wynton Marsalis among others.
For more information about any of these events and activities please visit Poets.org.
For more articles on the importance of poetry read the Importance of Poetry in Daily Life and also The Meeting of Poetry and Prayer for a different perspective. For a series of articles on Rilke's Duino Elegies begin with opening of Rilke's First Elegy.
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