Amanda Gorman, the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate, wrote: “Poetry is the lens we use to interrogate the history we stand on and the future we stand for. It is no coincidence that at the base of the Statue of Liberty, there is a poem.” Her message that poetry transcends the boundaries of time and place is one of the reasons this literary form will always be an integral part of our lives and culture. April marks the 28th anniversary of National Poetry Month, a celebration and commemoration launched by the American Academy of Poets in 1996. President Bill Clinton issued a proclamation on April 1, 1996 stating: "National Poetry Month offers us a welcome opportunity to celebrate not only the unsurpassed body of literature produced by our poets in the past but also the vitality and diversity of voices reflected in the works of today's American poetry….Their creativity and wealth of language enrich our culture and inspire a new generation of Americans to learn the power of reading and writing at its best." Today, this commemorative month is the largest literary celebration in the world, with millions of fans - and poets - attesting to the enduring value of poetry. Click here for thirty ways to celebrate National Poetry Month. And, check out some of the new titles below or make your own selections; click on the book cover to be taken to the catalog link. Joy awaits you.
“Poetry is life distilled.” Gwendolyn Brooks
“Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness.” Alice Walker
“Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted.” Percy Bysshe Shelley