April Is National Poetry Month

Since 1996, April has been National Poetry Month, a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets.

It's a month to get some media attention to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals.

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.

The goals of National Poetry Month, according to the Academy 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