In a society heavily influenced by the media, arts such as poetry are sometimes overshadowed and forgotten. During the month of April, National Poetry Month, introduced in the United States in 1996 and Canada in 1999, aims to introduce more people to poetry. Each year, the Academy of American Poets does this by sending posters to teachers, librarians, and booksellers, sending press releases to media outlets, and hosting events. Many publishers also release poetry during the month of April.
Though poetry exists as a powerful art form or an outlet for some, it is also something that many people do not know much about. With the increasing use of social media, people seemingly became more invested in 140 character stories and status updates. College freshman Hannah Polinski believes that though an appreciation for poetry will always exist, it often gets lost in the midst of everything else. “People are more likely to read up on celebrity gossip than pick up a poetry book. But I think there still is a steady appreciation that blogging really helped fuel,” said Polinski.
Polinski posts some of her own poetry on her blog, and thinks many people encounter poetry through reblogs on Tumblr. Though social media paves the way for people to learn more about celebrities, sites such as Tumblr and Wordpress can also get more people reading poetry.
National Poetry Month encourages everyone to explore poetry. To Polinski, spoken word poetry offers something powerful to people who do not connect as much with written poetry. “Spoken word is more of an accessible form of poetry to people who aren’t into metaphors and hidden messages,” said Polinski. Many different types of poems exist, allowing people to find their own styles that they connect with.
As with many arts, the spread of poetry may take on new forms throughout time, but that does not mean poetry is irrelevant. April brings attention to the world of poetry. And that world can be whatever people want it to be. “Poetry is much more impactful when you actually take part in it,” said Polinski. “You have to fully engage yourself in poetry to truly enjoy it.”
"The caged bird sings with / A fearful trill of things unknown / But longed for still and his / Tune is heard on the distant hill / For the caged bird sings of freedom."
-Maya Angelou