April is for poetry

This month is poetry month. It was established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets. According to its Web site, poetry month was started to:

• 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

I have my eye on these poetry books for my nieces and nephews – Because I Could Not Stop My Bike, I Must Go Down to the Beach Again by Karen Jo Shapiro. The poems are parodies of famous poems but with in a children-friendly style. Cute stuff and the author was originally from Andover, Mass.

Keep your eyes peeled. I’ll try to post several poems this month. If you have a favorite poem, mention it in the comments and I’ll post it.

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/47