Happy National Poetry Month

Poetry is my favorite. It’s part of why I wrote a whole novel in verse (After the Kiss)–because I just love what a good poem can do to you inside. The combination of the right image, the right feeling, and the right word is, simply, exquisite.

April is National Poetry Month, a month when everyone gets to celebrate poetry for thirty days. There are a lot of great activities out there around it thanks to the Academy of American Poets, and you should look around your town for special poetry readings or events that might be going on near you.

But I think poetry should be celebrated every day–not just in April, so I’m sharing some sites today that will help you do this. These are some of my personal faves, so even if you only look at them once, I hope you will.

In the meantime, grab a good slice of cake, something sparkly to drink, a party hat, and a poem, and get your poetry party on!

Young Adult Review Network — This is an AMAZING site
that is full of all kinds of fantastic writing advice, writing by young people, interviews with writers, and, of course, fantastic poetry.
Check out the state-by-state poetry project they’ve been doing all month!

The Writer’s Almanac — Okay, The Writer’s Almanac doesn’t always
have poetry on it, but the way Garrison Keillor reads makes everything
sound like poetry. There’s great information about poets there,
too, so it totally counts.

Poets and Writers Magazine — I started reading this magazine
when I was in high school, and every time I crack open a copy (or click on one),
I discover something wonderful.

Enjoy these. Enjoy April. And, above all, enjoy yourself some poetry!