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Celebrating Poetry: Home

April is National Poetry Month and we are celebrating with virtual read outs, "Porch Poetry", and other poetry resources throughout the month.

National Poetry Month - April 2020

"National Poetry Month was launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996 to remind the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world. Now, as we face unprecedented circumstances, National Poetry Month has taken on new meaning and importance." (The Academic of American Poets)

Ways to Share and Celebrate!

  1. Begin your virtual meetings or classes by reading a poem .
  2. Organize a poetry reading, open mic, or poetry slam via a video conferencing service. 
  3. Take a walk and write a poem outside (sidewalk chalk works well).
  4. Read and share poems about the environment in honor of Earth Day (April 22)
  5. Create a poem to virtually share on Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 30. 
  6. Sign up for poem-a-day

Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera

PORCH POETRY by our Campus Community

Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service
Read by Jennifer Huffman, University Libraries

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth
Read by Mindy King, University Libraries

Boys Pee on the Floor by Elizabeth Felt
Read by Elizabeth Felt, English

The General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Read by William Lawlor, English

Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg by Richard Hugo
Read by Ross Tangedal, English

The Low Road by Marge Piercy
Read by Rebecca Stephens, English

You Are on the Floor Crying & Poem for My Mother by Clementine von Radics
Read by Amanda Meidl, TLC

POETRY OUT LOUD by our Campus Community

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost
Read by Julie Schneider, Academic & Career Advising Center (ACAC)

The Voice by Shel Silverstein
Read by Lisa Killian, Academic & Career Advising Center (ACAC)

Lost by David Wagoner
Read by Sue Kissinger, Academic & Career Advising Center (ACAC)

Look It Over by Wendell Berry
Read by Sue Kissinger, Academic & Career Advising Center (ACAC)

Our National Parks by John Muir
Read by Sue Kissinger, Academic & Career Advising Center (ACAC)

E-Books of Poetry

Shelter in Poems

During National Poetry Month, the Academy asks our readers to share a poem that helps to find courage, solace, and actionable energy, and a few words about how or why it does so.

As responses continue to arrive from across the globe, we invite you to continue sharing poems on social media with the hashtag #ShelterInPoems

When tagging on social media, the Academy will select some of your responses to feature on this special Shelter in Poems page. 

Wisconsin Poet Laureate - Margaret Rozga

Poems for Kids