National Poetry month is the largest literary celebration in the world, according to www.poets.org. We unite with this creative cause and celebrate the important role poetry plays in our lives. Dating back to ancient traditions, poetry uses a unique ability to express thoughts and emotions in ways that creatively distill our general use of language. Like song, poetry evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness (www.britannica.com). Poetry has even been found to be a “powerful tool for building foundational literacy and writing skills” in young people, according to www.scholastic.com.
There are now over 100 poetic forms – they range from a sonnet to a haiku to a nursery rhyme and more. We invite you to celebrate the diversity of poetry with your family and friends using the links and lists below.
JOIN US
We encourage our Library communities and beyond to participate in “Poem in your Pocket Day” on April 18th. Color the space around you by bringing a poem to life. Here are some ways to get involved:
- Select a poem and share it on social media using the hashtag #PocketPoem. Don’t forget to tag us! – #YakimaValleyLibraries
- Email a poem to your friends, family, neighbors, or local government leaders.
- Schedule a video chat and read a poem to your loved ones.
- Read a poem out loud from your porch, window, backyard, or outdoor space.
- Add a poem to your email footer.
For inspiration, here are some recommended books from our collection:
Skip to End of Carousel Skip to End of CarouselDon’t forget about our eBook and audiobook collection on the Libby app.
You also have access to Gale Lit Finder. LitFinder provides access to literary works and authors throughout history and includes more than 130,000 full-text poems and 650,000+ poetry citations, as well as short stories, speeches, and plays. The database also includes secondary materials like biographies, images, and more.
We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.
And every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful, will emerge battered and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade of flame and unafraid.
The new dawn balloons as we free it.
For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
-Amanda Gorman, excerpt from “The Hill We Climb”