National Poetry Month was first started in April of 1996 by Academy of American Poets. National Poetry Month is meant to celebrate poets, their poetry and their many contributions to American society and culture. In 2021 we're celebrating the 25th annual National Poetry Month!
There are as many ways to celebrate National Poetry Month as there are kinds of poems (and that's a lot) so let's get started.
1. Try Your Hand at Writing Your Own Poems - The best way to learn is by doing! In the video below I'll show you some creative, fun, and easy ways to start writing.
Got the poetry bug? Check out these titles for more tips and inspiration for writing your own poems.
Not quite ready to be the next great poet? Here are some other great ways to celebrate National Poetry Month!
2. Learn About the Lives of Famous American Poets and Read Their Poems - Here are four names to get you started: Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, & Maya Angelou.
3. Read a Poetry Anthology - An anthology is a collection of poems. Sometimes they're all by the same author, sometimes they're by different authors but about the same subject.
4. Read a Novel Written In Verse - Not all books are written in standard chapters and ordinary form. Some authors prefer to write "in verse" which means that their novels are written in poetry.
