Here it is April already. March flew by ever so quickly.
April, the month designated as National Poetry Month. Thirty days to celebrate the genre that seems to be forgotten by many. Poets, I find, are an interesting group of writers. Like fiction writers and non-fiction writers, poets also put their sweat, tears and blood (as they say) into their work; but they put their inner souls also. Many write straight from the heart. Many write about the world around them and still many bring us some whimsical pieces. I don’t have one favorite when it comes to poets, I enjoy them all. From the haunting words of Poe’s “Raven” and “Annabel Lee” to Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnets of the Portuguese” to the book called “Love” a collection of poems by Danielle Steel, I am enthralled by them all. As one who writes poetry, I do my part to celebrate the thirty days of poetry. I purchase a new book of poetry. Last year I found one at the used book store operated by the Friends of the Library. I have yet to decide what I will purchase for this year, a hard copy to hold in my hands or one to read on my Kindle. Presently I am leaning towards a Kindle book that way I can have it in my purse with the rest of my electronic library and read a poem whenever the mood strikes.
The past two year (2012 and 2013) I did a challenge to write a poem a day during April. After reading these pieces recently, I found that I wrote quite a few about events happening in my life at the time. Some incidents included a night at a karaoke, the search for a new car, Earth Day and one poem had been composed on the premise of what I would have for dinner. Last year I decided to try my hand at limericks (wrote two and decided not for me).
This year I once again will take the challenge of creating a poem a day; the number of lines of the poems won’t matter as long as I just DO IT.
Other intentions to celebrate poetry month are:
a) Attend a poetry night and read a poem, not one of my own but one by a poet I find inspiring
b) Pass out poems for “Poem in Your Pocket Day”
c) Send a poem four times a week to those on my e-mail list
d) Buy a book of poetry
e) Give away book markers with a poem on them (one of mine)
f) Read three poems a day from one of my books
g) As a special treat, I will give away two books of my own poetry to someone at random (the books will be the collection of 2012 and 2013 poems a day I composed for poetry month)
Today is day one of thirty days of celebration. As of yet I have not begun to celebrate nor have I thought about what to compose for poem one/day one. I am certain by 8:00 p.m. I should have it complete as long as I don’t go on the internet, look out my window to get distracted or find some other excuse not to sit down to write.
To all the poets out there…HAPPY NATIONAL POETRY MONTH TO YOU!!! May your words flow over paper as you write or fingers fly over the key board if you type.
Until next time…have to go….need to find a poem to send to all those on my email list.
TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL POETRY MONTH (2014)
©Scottie-ann Murphy
Free verse, rhymes, limericks, odes, ballads
A few of the types of poems one can read
April….the month the genre of poetry celebrated
Thirty days to put aside fiction stories and non-fiction reading
A month to concentrate on the reading and appreciation of poetry
An opportunity to discover the words composed by
Robert Burns, Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Poe,
Maya Angelou, James Whitcomb Riley, Adrienne Rich
As well as the up and coming contemporary poets
A chance to attend a poetry reading
Enjoying words penned by unknown, hoping to be discovered bards
Thirty days….so many poems to be read….so little time
April….month to remind everyone that poetry patiently waits
To be read,
Recited
And created
