The coming of the month of April brings with it a lot of things. Kids in school get excited because April means the beginning of spring — or, rather, spring break. Teenagers chant, “Two more months.” Two more months until summer, until freedom. However, spring break and the hope of summer aside, April is also known as National Poetry Month.
Kids are exposed to poetry from a very young age. We’re taught how to write poetry, how to analyze it, and much more. Younger children in elementary school learn about the beauty of rhyme from books such as those from Dr. Seuss. High schoolers are introduced to the different rhyme schemes, the different poetry styles, and the different poets (like John Keats, Maya Angelou, and Robert Frost) that are known worldwide.
National Poetry Month was started back in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, and its purpose was to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. Now, I never knew about National Poetry Month until I was about seven years old, when I submitted an idea to the LA Times about how someone ought to invent a national holiday called National Poetry Day. As it turned out, that the idea had already been thought of many years before. Silly grade-school me.
Poetry is a timeless art form that has endured the trials of history. Humankind finds beauty in poetry, appreciating the endless possibilities of expression and creation. I never really liked learning about poetry, especially my freshman year in high school. We would get quizzes on recognizing iambic pentameter in European poems. I realize now, though, the purpose of learning the different types of rhyme schemes. The next generation will have a more cultured and broadened perspective on the world if we are knowledgeable about the past. So, we must learn about poets such as Emily Dickinson and William Shakespeare, artists that have left their eternal marks on world history.
Besides April being a month to celebrate my birthday, April is also a month to celebrate poetry. Whether you’re studying iambic pentameter or rehearsing lines for a Shakespearean play, there is always knowledge to be gained from the poets or emotional catharsis to be gained from the works of art themselves. Personally, I have always relied on poetry as my outlet for emotional therapy. The art of poetry allows us to express ourselves however we choose by whichever style or method we relate to the most, and in light of that, the official website of Academy of American Poets is offering their ideas for 30 ways to celebrate National Poetry Month. So this month, get creative, and celebrate with us as we honor poetry in all its forms!