April is National Poetry Month, as established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. This is also National Card and Letter Writing Month...I have no idea who decided that, but any excuse to promote letter writing is a good one, in my opinion!
And, this year, the two "months" are colliding, as the Academy of American Poets is celebrating the role that correspondence has played in poets' development and writing lives by announcing the "Dear Poet Project." According to the AAP website, "In the spirit of Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, in which Rilke replies to letters from a young military cadet and aspiring poet asking for his advice, we are inviting students to engage with poetry by handwriting letters to some of the poets who serve on the Academy's Board of Chancellors."
Here is the suggestion from the AAP site:
Any young person is encouraged to participate! Here's how:
1) Read some of the poems written by the Academy's Chancellors. Here are some suggested poems to read and respond to:
Latin & Soul by Victor Hernández Cruz
Cherry Blossoms by Toi Derricotte
Broadway by Mark Doty
[Where do words come from?]
by Vénus Khoury-Ghata,
translated by Marilyn Hacker
You and I Belong in This Kitchen
by Juan Felipe Herrera
Fall by Edward Hirsch
A Hand by Jane Hirshfield
Famous by Naomi Shihab Nye
Nothing in That Drawer by Ron Padgett
This Bridge, Like Poetry, is Vertigo
by Marie Ponsot
Comet Hyakutake by Arthur Sze
Fast-Speaking Woman by Anne Waldman
2) Compose a one to two page handwritten letter sharing your questions and thoughts about the poem with its author. (Be sure to include your age and grade, along with a return address if you hope to receive a response). 3) Send your letter to:
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| Isn't this National Poetry Month poster great!?! |
And, this year, the two "months" are colliding, as the Academy of American Poets is celebrating the role that correspondence has played in poets' development and writing lives by announcing the "Dear Poet Project." According to the AAP website, "In the spirit of Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, in which Rilke replies to letters from a young military cadet and aspiring poet asking for his advice, we are inviting students to engage with poetry by handwriting letters to some of the poets who serve on the Academy's Board of Chancellors."
Here is the suggestion from the AAP site:
Any young person is encouraged to participate! Here's how:
1) Read some of the poems written by the Academy's Chancellors. Here are some suggested poems to read and respond to:
Latin & Soul by Victor Hernández Cruz
Cherry Blossoms by Toi Derricotte
Broadway by Mark Doty
[Where do words come from?]
by Vénus Khoury-Ghata,
translated by Marilyn Hacker
You and I Belong in This Kitchen
by Juan Felipe Herrera
Fall by Edward Hirsch
A Hand by Jane Hirshfield
Famous by Naomi Shihab Nye
Nothing in That Drawer by Ron Padgett
This Bridge, Like Poetry, is Vertigo
by Marie Ponsot
Comet Hyakutake by Arthur Sze
Fast-Speaking Woman by Anne Waldman
2) Compose a one to two page handwritten letter sharing your questions and thoughts about the poem with its author. (Be sure to include your age and grade, along with a return address if you hope to receive a response). 3) Send your letter to:
Dear Poet ProjectSelect letters may receive a reply from the poet and be featured on the Academy's website, Poets.org!
c/o Academy of American Poets
75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901
New York, NY 10038
1 comment:
I agree. April is a great month. It is also the month for Earth Day, and my birthday. I especially like the poster. I enjoy rhyme and words, letters and birds. I love life and I am so happy that I was born in April.
Nice post.
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