Poem in Your Pocket Day

April is National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate the power of words, imagination, and expression. In 2002, Poem in Your Pocket Day was introduced as a fun and simple way to share poetry with others. While it lands on different days each year, it is always in the month of April.

You don’t have to write your own poem. Print copies of one you love and pass it along wherever you go – work, school, coffee shops, libraries, grocery stores, or even on a street corner. You could fold a poem into an origami shape, like a swan, and leave it behind as a small surprise for someone to discover. Share poetry digitally by posting on social media or sending in a text to friends and family. Call someone you care about and read it aloud. Recite it to your pet. Help poetry fill the world, starting with you. Any way you choose to share, let poetry go with you – and pass it on.

Need some inspiration? Here are some favorite collections of poems, as well as a few books to help the young poet in your life get started.