Is there a National Essay Month? A National Nonfiction Month? A National Romance Novel Month?

No, but since 1996, there’s been a National Poetry Month (actually, we share it with our neighbo(u)rs to the north, as well.

This joyous celebration was established by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase attention to the art of poetry, to living poets and to our poetic heritage, in hopes of making poetry more accessible and visible in our lives.

There are many poets coming to our area this month (see Take Five, the Herald’s Thursday arts and entertainment magazine, for details), and in particular, one event that I look forward to every other year (but it’s not until May) — the Skagit River Poetry Festival, taking place May 15 through 17 in La Conner. Click here for details on the festival.

Here are a few more links, rather non-academic, but informative and with some good links to poetic history, contemporary poetry and poetry forums, click here or here .

If you are a teacher of young children, here are a couple of suggestions on how to make poetry come alive for your students. Here’s one
and here’s another .

More than anything, of course, is the pure sensation, the smiles, the tears and the memories that that special poem can bring to you, personally. If you have a favorite poem, why not post it here?