The idea is simple. Find a poem that you love or one that makes you laugh or something that conjures up wistful memories. Write it down. Put it in your pocket and throughout the day, share it with your friends and your coworkers and the people in line at the coffee shop and the students in your class and your family at the dinner table and whoever else you come into contact with. It’s National Poetry Month. Read poetry.
If you’ve been coming here for a while, you know poetry month is something I celebrate. This month, I had the incredible experience of meeting Rita Dove, a former US Poet Laureate and listening to her describe the inspiration and research behind her Sonata Mullatica. It was a magical evening.
Rita began with her recollection of watching Immortal Beloved, a fictionalized tale about Beethoven and led us on a journey from London to Vienna to the halls of Monticello where she conducted the research that became this book of poetry. I spotted the documentary poet, Cynthia Hogue in the crowd.
Beyond her lyrical voice and warm smile, what captured me about Rita Dove was the trajectory of diligence she pursued in order to tell the tale of George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower, a bi-racial violin virtuoso who lived in the late 1700’s. Dove began with a Google search on; Beethoven, violinist, black and from there scoured diaries and performance logs to piece together the story of this man. Where fact wasn’t forthcoming, she filled in with fiction and she tells the entire story through poetry.
From rhyme to rap we learned that Beethoven’s Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 was actually written for Bridgetower. The two men performed it publicly in Vienna in 1803, with Beethoven on piano and Bridgetower on violin.Then, in an apparent fit of jealousy regarding a woman, Beethoven removed Bridgetower’s name. When it was published in 1805, it was the Kreutzer Sonata dedicated to the violinist Rudolphe Kreutzer who never performed it.
Sometimes it rhymes, other times not but always with clever turns of phrase. I love knowing that this art can be used for more than a mood or a postcard but can spell out a life. So how might you celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day?
Here are some tips taken from the Academy of American Poets for easy ways to celebrate:
- Start a “poem for pockets” giveaway in your school or workplace.
- Post a poem on your blog or social networking page.
- If you are a local business owner, offer discounts for customers carrying poems.
- If you are a teacher, reward students “caught” with a poem in their pocket.
- Start a street team to pass out poems in your community.
- Handwrite a few lines on the back of your business card.
- Add a poem to your email footer.
- Check out the Academy’s Poem in Your Pocket anthology books for adults and kids.
- Find more fun celebration ideas at www.poets.org/pocket
Agrigirl's Blog 
Nourishing Words
/ April 22, 2012I spent yesterday in a poetry writing workshop, celebrating my inner and oft-forgotten poet. I came away resolved to both write more poetry and read more. These are great ideas for shining a brighter light on the beautiful poetry that’s all around us.
Eleanor
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012Thanks Eleanor. I thought so too. Friday night after my son’s baseball game we went out to eat with other ball player families. I pulled out a poem and read and rather than embarrassment was greeted with familiarity and stories that wanted to be told like, “that was the way I wooed my wife” or “my grandfather published a book of poetry”.
Nourishing Words
/ April 22, 2012Cool!
Debbie
/ April 22, 2012Thank you, Tammy, for sharing Rita with us. 🙂 I am amazed by poets and writers that hunt down their poems and stories like that. You mentioning Cynthia being there reminded me that you mentioned before about doing more documentary poetry. I love what you write and share!
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012I love the notion of documentary poetry. It is so fresh and eloquent. In fact, it would be fun to rewrite a news story in poetry. Should we try?
cindyricksgers
/ April 22, 2012Great post, good idea! I’m going to include a poem in my blog today. Thank you!
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012Yeah! I wish everyone would do so!
Brian
/ April 22, 2012Tammy,
My favourite by Rudyard Kipling, IF:
IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
‘ Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!
All the best
Brian
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012Very nice and even better that you appear to know it from memory. I think we should all work harder to make poetry part of every day.
debbrunson
/ April 22, 2012Brian, I memorized this poem in seventh grade English (I’m 34 now) and I still remember every word. We were allowed to pick any poem, and this one struck a chord with my young heart and brain 😉 Thank you for sharing and for the journey down memory lane. Tammy… this will probably be the one making it into the pocket of my chef’s pants tomorrow 🙂 Thanks you two!
Brian
/ April 23, 2012Whenever I feel down I remember the words.I believe kipling wrote this when he learned that his only son had been killed in WW1.
cheers
Brian
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Words comfort.
I Made You A Mixtape
/ April 22, 2012I struggle with poetry. So many times, I read it… and I go… “I don’t get it”. That’s why I recently subscribed to the Academy of American Poets poem a day email list… and every day I look forward to a new poem in my inbox that challenges and inspires me…great idea by the way!
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012You know, that might be why this form of non-fiction and documentary poetry appeals to me. I can follow the story. In the end, our own interpretation is all that matters.
Know Thank You
/ April 22, 2012Poetry, and many other forms of writing, are absolute treasures. One of my favorite recent laureates was Billy Collins. I remember him reading frequently on NPR, and enjoyed that his voice sounded a lot like Kevin Spacey. That gave an interesting twist to his work, the beautiful words being read in the dulcet tones of a sardonic actor made this listener question each piece and look for hidden motives.
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012And he has such an amazing sense of humor which flings itself across his words. Last year he came to Phoenix and my 9 year old (then 8) was buckled in two listening to him read “Marco Polo” from his Ballistic series. There is a remarkable child who has memorized Collins Bread and Knife on youtube. That’s another really humorous poem and the child is brilliant. Last year NPR did a story about Billy meeting the child.
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012I just checked and Marco Polo is not from Ballistic but is a Billy Collin’s poem.
lucindalines
/ April 22, 2012Thanks for the post, and thanks to Brian for the comment. I love, love, love it!
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012Great! Enjoy!
Cassie
/ April 22, 2012LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. I’m participating as well and I just can’t wait. Love sharing poetry with the world.
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012Enjoy! I hope you’ll blog about the poetry that you choose to share.
Dawn
/ April 22, 2012Thanks Tammy – I didn’t know about this month but now preparing to share a poem as well. Also, should get back to the ‘Friday poems’ that my husband and I used to write each week (and haven’t since our son was born, years ago!). I looked forward to them every single week…
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012What a great thing! We had family reading tonight. Everyone brought a poem and it was really sweet to see what everyone chose.
lorrainemt
/ April 22, 2012Thanks for steering me to Sonata Mullatica. I’m a violinist and had never heard this story about the Kreutzer. Music, story, poetry–sounds like the perfect book!
Tammy
/ April 22, 2012I think you might really enjoy it. Thanks for reading!
Rukmini Roy
/ April 22, 2012You know Tammy, I’m more of a Prose fan than Poetry. But one of my all time favorite would be Tintern Abbey by Wordsworth. That deep strain of melancholy fused into romanticism is something I’d die for. I am a major in English Literature- This year I’ll apply for my masters. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to read more again!
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012I think I side with prose also and that’s why I’ve been enjoying this poetry that tells a non-fiction tale.
Tesney Ap
/ April 22, 2012I am not a poem girl but I really love the idea 🙂 Spreading beautiful things that makes you happy 🙂 It’s so sweet.
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Write one about Yasmeen!
Curly Bug
/ April 23, 2012Fantastic post Tammy. My mind is now racing thinking of which poem to share on my blog…I love this idea and have always enjoyed reading poetry. It really makes you think! Thank you for bringing this subject some great attention.
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Last night after dinner we did a read around. It was a lot of fun.
Lisa H
/ April 23, 2012Great post! I have forwarded it on to teachers that I believe would enjoy your tips to making poetry fun for the kids. As a kid, I couldn’t get enough of Shel Silverstein’s poems. I read his books over and over and always chose one of his poems to memorize for class in elementary school.
I like your idea of having the kids choose a poem to read at home! And I will be looking for a poem to stick in my pocket to share with others.
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012I’m really hopeful that the teacher’s and librarians do ask the kids to share.
Inger Wilkerson
/ April 23, 2012I still remember a poem a friend sent me in college that perfectly encapsulated some issues I’d been struggling with. Sharing poetry can be very special!
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Yes, and you’ll always remember it.
souldipper
/ April 23, 2012The server in my hotel is too grouchy to let me hear the video. I hear half of one word then wait for two minutes to hear the other half. Erg. So it will wait. But Tammy – I love how you nudge, encourage, introduce and stimulate.
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Well, enjoy your holiday and think of a bit of poetry while you are away.
Mary
/ April 23, 2012Writing poetry
Carefully crafting one’s words
Is truly an art
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Great haiku Mary.
Sophie33
/ April 23, 2012That’s a great & cool idea, dear Tammy!:) I am so going to do that!
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Oh good! I think it’s such fun.
nursemyra
/ April 23, 2012Lovely idea Tammy. I’m going to print out Anne Sexton’s poem “Old” and pin it on the noticeboard at work
I’m afraid of needles.
I’m tired of rubber sheets and tubes.
I’m tired of faces that I don’t know
and now I think that death is starting.
Death starts like a dream,
full of objects and my sister’s laughter.
We are young and we are walking
and picking wild blueberries.
all the way to Damariscotta.
Oh Susan, she cried.
you’ve stained your new waist.
Sweet taste —
my mouth so full
and the sweet blue running out
all the way to Damariscotta.
What are you doing? Leave me alone!
Can’t you see I’m dreaming?
In a dream you are never eighty.
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012I remember reading Anne the last time I posted on poetry. You had recommended her.
nrhatch
/ April 23, 2012Sounds like a great way to share our favorite poems.
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Indeed!
Brian
/ April 24, 2012To all your bloggers!
With the 100 year anniversary of WW1 coming soon I have been reading poems written by one of the most famous war poets, Rupert Brooke. Read them guys, very poignant.
nancy at good food matters
/ April 24, 2012Tammy, this post just made my day! I love the Rita Dove reading–so powerful, poignant, amusing…amazing. Here’s a poem for you, by Frank Steele. Happy National Poetry Month.
The Weight of the World
I look at a goat two hundred yards
deep in a field
wagging his head and the light
coming off him in flakes
of distance. He sees me
through his stopped day, and behind
the killing stillness of his beard
some weight of prophecy—it isn’t
just me anymore but an added look
that saw me, as if sky
examined sky, or grass grass. I think of this
all day and half the night
from a room where air breathed over and over
turns milky with sleep: what happens
through a single look carried
between the brass sun
and the glass stars.
Brian
/ April 24, 2012Tammy,
Pandora’s box has been opened, well done!
cheers
Brian
Tammy
/ April 25, 2012So it seems! Have one in your pocket tomorrow!
Tammy
/ April 25, 2012Ah, what happens through a single look. Thanks so much Nancy.
shrinkingthecamel
/ April 26, 2012“Art can spell out a life…” Tammy, that is truly a beautiful thought. So glad to see your love of poetry.
Tammy
/ April 26, 2012Today is the day. Hope you’ll travel with a poem in your pocket.
island traveler
/ April 26, 2012An inspiring idea. Now it’s time to find a poem for my pocket. Have a wonderful day….
Tammy
/ April 26, 2012Sticking one in mine as I write.
b r
/ April 26, 2012Wow! What an experience, listening to Rita Dove. I have Sonata Mulattica here next to me, on my bookshelf. Going to watch the video you provided right after I hit ‘post comment.’
Which poem is in your pocket today?
Tammy
/ April 26, 2012I took the poem Fuel by Naomi Shihab Nye. I did have a chance to share it with a couple of people. I was totally disappointed though that no one asked my children for their poems and they were all ready.
kateshrewsday
/ April 26, 2012I love the poetry in the pocket idea, Tammy. Off to spread that one far and wide now.
Tammy
/ April 26, 2012I hope you do. It is a lovely way to share.
Elisa's Spot
/ April 27, 2012I was reminded yesterday of Little Free Library, though it is outside of the limits of affordability. I like these ideas very much and they have the ability to be used here in housing, where I live. Perhaps some of the children would like the ‘spy’ type features of the activity enough to be more exposed to poetry and to the idea of the Commonplace Book. My ‘pocket-share’ with you today is one by Rumi, that is today’s Morning Trip post. Say I Am You
Tammy
/ April 27, 2012That was a lovely share.
Naomi
/ April 28, 2012Oh, how lovely, thank you for this inspiration, Tammy! I don’t even know if we have a National Poetry Month in SA, but think I should post a poem again anyway…its been a long while 🙂
Tammy
/ April 28, 2012Looking forward to it!
Kath (My Funny Little Life)
/ May 2, 2012This is such a lovely idea! I have to admit that poetry is something I haven’t gotten into much … We read and learned some poems at school (and I’ve forgotten all of them), and since then I’ve been out of touch with poetry. I somehow don’t have too much access to poetry. Same with art. It’s music that goes straight to my soul, however I like what you can do with words. It’s mostly philosophy or good prose that sticks to my mind, though. I should read more poetry! 😀
Tammy
/ May 2, 2012I think of music and poetry as the same genre!
Hannah
/ May 11, 2012I’ve started sneaking favourite poems of mine onto my blog every now and again, so I absolutely love this initiative 🙂 Slightly more tangible than just whispering my favourite verses to myself during tough moments.
Tammy
/ May 12, 2012Please don’t stop whispering to yourself but I do love that you’re putting poems on your blog Hannah.
Tammy
/ April 18, 2019Reblogged this on Agrigirl's Blog and commented:
It’s been a while but it’s still one of my favorite holidays of the year!
YourStellarSelf
/ June 24, 2020Hi Tammy! I hope all is well with you. I just came across this post from many moons ago. Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem and fascinating story.
Tammy
/ July 11, 2020You’re quite welcome.
Tammy
/ April 23, 2012Thanks Dawn!