Reflection on National Poetry Month

      Everyone has a way to channel their energy, whether it be music, art, dance, theatre, or even sports. Everyone has something that is an outlet for their passion and drive. For some people, it’s writing creatively. More specifically, sometimes it’s the wonderful art of poetry. Poetry is a medium that has moved me ever since I first encountered it and discovered my love for it. I have always loved reading different types of literature. However it was not until after high school that I really took the initiative to explore the world of poetry. I started getting into Slam Poetry and Spoken Word. I discovered amazing slam poets such as Olivia Gatwood, Sabrina Benaim, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, and Rachel Wiley, who not only write amazing resonating work, but bring it to life in person, on stage, in front of hundreds of people. It is because of Slam Poetry that poetry is becoming more of a performing art. This reminds me that poetry is an art that is always changing and reinventing itself throughout time. This personally inspires me to continue working at the craft, and it also reminds me to be unique to myself.

      I have always loved writing. It is not just a pastime— it is a way of sharing my story with the world. It is a way of making sure my voice is heard. It is because of this that poetry holds so much power. I’m sure that I am not the only poet who feels this way. In fact, poetry has been going strong since around the 18th century, around the time where the Epic of Gilgamesh was written. Poetry has lived through the ages; it has told unbelievable stories about anything from love to death, and it continues to do so today.

       The Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month in 1996. According to Poets.org, “National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives every April.”

       April is a time to not just celebrate Easter or April fools, but to celebrate one of the wonderful creations made by humanity. To celebrate a form of creativity, because after all we were made by a creative and inspiring God. Even if you never had a particularly good experience with poetry, I invite you to give this wonderful form of creativity a chance because it allows a multitude of people to express themselves. And who knows, maybe you will discover a new found love.

      If you would like to check out some poetry events, I encourage you look at the accompanying infographic and explore a whole new world of creativity. If you already love poetry, welcome back; we missed you.