April is National Poetry Month! If you’ve never heard of National Poetry Month or you would like to learn a little more about it, then this Cavalier Court Blog post is for you! In it, we will be sharing some of the history behind how National Poetry Month came about, who started it, why it is celebrated when it is, and the goals behind it. Read on to expand your knowledge about National Poetry Month without having to leave the comfort of your Fairfax, VA apartment.
What is National Poetry Month?
National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives every April.
Who started it?
Inspired by the successful celebrations of Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March), the Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month in 1996. Along the way, they enlisted a variety of government agencies and officials, educational leaders, publishers, sponsors, poets, and arts organizations to help. National Poetry Month is a registered trademark of the Academy of American Poets.
Why was April chosen for National Poetry Month?
In coordination with poets, booksellers, librarians, and teachers, the Academy of American Poets chose a month when poetry could be celebrated with the highest level of participation. April seemed the best month of the year to turn attention toward the art of poetry—in an ultimate effort to encourage poetry readership year-round.
What are the goals of National Poetry Month?
The goals of National Poetry Month are to:
— highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
— encourage the reading of poems
— assist teachers in bringing poetry into their classrooms
— increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
— encourage increased publication and distribution of poetry books, and
— encourage support for poets and poetry.
How do you plan on celebrating National Poetry Month? Share your ideas with us in the comments. Thanks for reading our post about National Poetry Month!
*Info about National Poetry Month taken from the Academy of American Poets website.