Poem in Your Pocket Day

(photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/staredownstudios/2336704578/)

April is National Poetry Month, and to help us continue the celebration beyond the month, Poets.org is sponsoring "Poem in Your Pocket Day" on April 30.

The day is named after Beatrice Shenk De Regniers' poem that encourages children (of all ages) to keep poetry and art close by to stave off loneliness.

As the site says, the idea is simple. Keep some copies of your favorite poem in your pocket, and hand them out to people you see throughout the day. As Sara Teasdale said, "Life has loveliness to sell." Why not share it? The site offers poems to print if you are at a loss for what to choose.

If poetry for adults seems too obscure, try poetry for children. Children's poetry is experiencing a new heyday. Every day this month, Greg at Gottabook has published a new poem by a children's poet. Sylvia Vardell reviews new poetry books for children on her blog. Poetry is alive, well, and kicking!

What poets and poetry spring to your mind? If too much high school and college analysis put you off poetry for good, give it another try. Here are some links to poetry, old & new, in no special order. Let me know if you find a new favorite. And don't be surprised if someone takes a bit of paper out of his or her pocket and hands you a poem!

Eric Ode
Giggle Poetry
Kristine O'Connell George
Representative Poetry Online
Kalli Dakos
Paul Janeczko
Naomi Shihab Nye
There are gazillions more, but I'd better stop there!