April is coming

Hi everyone,

The national poetry month of April is on its way. If you want to help promote it, now is the time to start planning. I’m joining with poet/professor Marcus Cafagna (Southwest Missouri State University) again to create one of more programs. We’ve approached our Springfield area public radio/TV folks about doing something on air. In the past we’ve each read from our work and included two of Marcus’s students reading from theirs. We’ve done the same thing at our public library, but this year we missed the deadline for planning activities in April. My fault. Should have started sooner. There is a possibility that I’ll do something with poetry for the library’s summer reading program. I would enjoy that. I’m also making a pitch to our public school system to participate in their summer school semester. We’ll see how that goes. I’ve also reminded our newspaper about poetry month and suggested there can be a story in it. I intend to get in touch with friends who work in television and ask them to consider doing something on air in April.

So what can you do to promote poetry in your area this April? Who do you know in the media? Contact them about doing something to feature poetry and volunteer to help. You can write an article or volunteer to be interviewed. Work with a local book store to celebrate the month with readings for adults and story hours for the littles. Make plans to send cards to friends of all ages with poems inside. My friend and fellow poet Eileen Spinelli sends cards on special occasions with quotes about the subject tucked inside that provide delightful surprises and food for thought. Plan to visit someone special who is living in an assisted living facility to read a few poems. Offer to present a program for them. What else can you think of? It’s not too early to start making your plans now.