Yeah, you!
A little poetry to start with
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (opening lines)
Oh to be in England Now that April's there
Robert Browning, Home Thoughts from Abroad
The Wasteland
I. THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD
APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
T. S. EliotDo you sense any repetition here?
While one might not expect poets to work in the medium of the Frequently Asked Questions format, you'd be wrong.
From the FAQ on National Poetry Month:
What is National Poetry Month? National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets. The concept is to widen the attention of individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern. We hope to increase the visibility and availability of poetry in popular culture while acknowledging and celebrating poetry’s ability to sustain itself in the many places where it is practiced and appreciated.We are acknowledging and celebrating, dawg!
Who started it? The Academy of American Poets has led this initiative from its inception in 1996 and along the way has enlisted a variety of government agencies and officials, educational leaders, publishers, sponsors, poets, and arts organizations to help.
We're from the government and we're here to help you read poetry. When is National Poetry Month? April. Every year since 1996.
Why was April chosen for National Poetry Month? In coordination with poets, booksellers, librarians, and teachers, the Academy chose a month when poetry could be celebrated with the highest level of participation. Inspired by the successful celebrations of Black History Month (February) and Women's History Month (March), and on the advice of teachers and librarians, April seemed the best time within the year to turn attention toward the art of poetry—in an ultimate effort to encourage poetry readership year-round.
We all thought you'd be ready for a little sonnet action after those heavy Black History and Women's History Months.
If you really thought that Black History Month and Women's History Month were such great ideas, would you STILL have to explain which months they are?
And, Dude . . . April! Did you have to ask a lot of teachers and librarians???
Did they giggle when you asked which month was most poetic?1
photo from Ewa in the Garden blogThe FAQ goes on to enumerate:
What are the goals of National Poetry Month? The goals of National Poetry Month are to:
- Highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
- Introduce more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry
- Bring poets and poetry to the public in immediate and innovative ways
- Make poetry a more important part of the school curriculum
- Increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
- Encourage increased publication, distribution, and sales of poetry books
- Increase public and private philanthropic support for poets and poetry
So it's not Poetry Month but National Poetry Month, so you'd better stop reading those lousy socialist tea-drinking English Poets!
Put a poet to work--It's April!
Poets doing what they do best 1 Somehow the British didn't ask this question, because their "P0etry Month" is October. Go figure.National Poetry Month Vase, 620 BCE
Comments
May I use that 620 B.C. vase as my begging vase? It would really help me strike a pose. (Not that I'm a poseur or anything. I'm the real deal. Read my stuff.)
Oh, and April was designated National Poetry Month in honor of my birthday. And Shakespeare's too, I guess.
And it's nice to know that Chaucer was even more of a mush-mouthed bad speller than I am! (just kidding)