I can hardly contain myself. Tomorrow begins National Poetry Month.
A whole Nation celebrating poetry. For thirty whole days.
Okay, let’s be realistic. Does the whole nation know about this? Or this? Have they even seen this?
Perhaps not. How many of us are actually reading poetry anyway? (Well, not how many of us here at LJ. Of course not. I’m preaching to the choir here.)
What is it about the word Poetry that strikes fear in the heart of the average American? Are we afraid we won’t understand it? Or maybe we’re afraid we’ll MISunderstand it and look like a fool?
Can we do something about that? Can we get the people who don’t think they like poetry to read it? Maybe. If we try. So for Poetry Month this year, I’m sending one poem a day to one carefully chosen person a day. My list isn’t complete but I’ll choose a person with whom I have a relationship and then choose a poem I think they would enjoy . . . even if they don’t think they’d enjoy poetry. For me this year, it’s all about engaging with people over poetry, and not with the usual suspects.
Call it my own personal poetry crusade. I’ll share some of the poems here. And I’ll let you know what the response is. 🙂
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Kristy Dempsey 
Kristy I think this is a fabulous idea!
I still quake in my boots at the thought of poetry because there is so much more that I DON’T understand, than stuff that I do understand.
And I am thinking you are a fabulous poet.
I think one of the great things about poetry is that it’s possible to begin with just a phrase — a few words that sound just right. I think that’s true of poems that I don’t understand too. I can begin with an appreciation for the sound of a few words in it or their meaning, and even if I miss the meaning of the rest, those few words can tell me something or make me feel something.
I think I am just filled with a lot of fear in general, in life. Sigh. I do try to just grasp a sentence or two sometimes.
I need to find the time to work on imagery and metaphors and learn how to use more poetic tools.
Someday.
Oh, sweetie, comparison killed the creative cat. (And maybe you’re not comparing yourself to other poets. But if you are, STOP. 🙂 )
We all need to work on our craft, from the beginning poets among us to the accomplished. We’re all in progress.
what a great idea!!!
Thanks, doc!
Kristy,
I’ve been looking forward to national poetry month every year. It used to be a tradition for me to go to my kids’ classes at least once during April to read poetry. And last year, at the school where I work, I got to do a sort of “poetry workshop” with the 3rd and 5th grades. I wonder if they’ll ask me again? That would be cool.
Oops, forgot to identify myself in the comment above. 🙂
Becky
Oh, I’d love to be in the US for Poetry Month and go into schools. I’m going to check about doing it here. 🙂
This is a great idea! I hope I’m on your list!
YES, YES! I will send you a poem. You sort of a “usual suspect” but since we can’t talk shop often enough, I’d love to interact with you over a poem. Not to find the right one . . .
Interesting – you’re like a poetry prophet, kinda. Or a ninja. I like that image better. Kristy the Poetry Ninja.
I’ll be writing a haiku a day in April, but probably not sharing most of them at my blog.
Ooo, I like it. Poetry Ninja.
Though I hope it doesn’t appear that I wield poetry as a weapon on the unsuspecting person. For me these conversations are all about engaging about poetry with those with whom I wouldn’t normally discuss poetry. It’s less of a trapping someone in a corner and more of a sitting alongside someone and sipping a cup of tea.