By: Avery Jolin

A haiku:

Spring is in the air,

the days are getting longer,

the evenings warmer.

April means a change of season—and National Poetry Month! The month-long celebration was started by the Academy of American Poets to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry. Join us and revel in the oldest form of literary expression, whether it’s or a sonnet or a simple haiku. In honor of National Poetry Month, discover three easy ways to share and inspire a love of language in yourself and others!

1. Sign up to get a poem delivered to you every day.

The nonprofit Poetry.org distributes Poem-of-the Day, a poem delivered to your email free of charge every day, including unpublished and new works from famous and not-so-famous poets. They also host the International Library of Poetry, the largest and most extensive online poetry collection. A poem a day may not keep the doctor away, but it will certainly keep your imagination healthy.

2. Volunteer to read poetry to kids.

Know a school-age kid? Ask their teacher if you can visit the class and read your favorite (child-friendly) poems to students during story time or Language Arts class. If you don’t know a school-age kid but still want to get involved in your community, connect with your local library to see their schedule for reading groups. Classics like The Giving Tree and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom are sure to be a hit with kids under age six, while older kids and teens will appreciate classic poets like Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, and e.e. cummings. 

3. Fundraise to support poetry in schools.

DonorsChoose supports teachers and students all over the U.S. through crowdsourcing projects. (It’s like Go Fund Me for education.) Public school teachers often pay for classroom materials from of their own pockets due to lack of funding. This month, why not skip your morning Starbucks for a week and donate the savings to a teacher’s poetry fundraiser near you? Find poetry-specific projects in your area here. 

Photo: Taylor Ann Wright