In today’s mail an appeal for money came from an organization I’ve belonged to for some time, The Academy of American Poets.

Since I had paid my dues and am doing quite a bit to celebrate National Poetry Month in both my freshman comp classes, I did not break out my checkbook. LOL However, I did read the three page letter in its entirety and found it very informative.

DID YOU KNOW that National Poetry Month began with a local celebration in New York in 1996 and has since “grown each April [until] …it touches literally tens of millions of readers in every community and corner of the country.”?

DID YOU ALSO KNOW that poets and appreciators of poetry have participated in local, state, and national celebrations and events relevant to poetry” for over the past quarter century and more”?

DID YOU KNOW that this month Ada Limon (whom I heard read from her latest collection and be interviewed by the Houston Poet Laureate a month ago) has written a poem “Instructions on Not Giving Up,” which The Academy of Poets wants all members to carry in their pockets or purses to share on April 19th, “Poem in Your Pocket Day,” an annual event/celebration. People have been sharing a poem in their pocket for over twenty years, by the way.

“Somewhere near you, thanks to the extraordinary publicity that National Poetry Month generates each year, a caregiver, or a carpenter, or a bus driver or a barista will hear about” National Poetry Month and will be the recipient of someone’s pocket poem during the month of April. Somewhere near you, a friend, relative, student or other individual will invite you to a poetry slam at a local library, a poetry reading at a nearby school, or some other celebration of poetry at a local level. Will you take them up on the invitation?

Have you done something or planned to celebrate National Poetry Month yet? No? GET ON THE BALL! Today is April 5th. Time is flying by. LOL

RAE 4/5/23