Let’s play a game. Guess the author: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” Did you get it? This famous line was written by arguably the world’s most famous poet William Shakespeare. Now, you might be thinking “What was the point of that game?” It is to inform you that April brings May flowers and National Poetry Month.
National Poetry Month was established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to celebrate the humor, emotion, and life experience shown in poetry worldwide. It is the largest literary celebration in the world and is celebrated in many public schools across the country.
Poetry is one the oldest forms of literature going back thousands of years. The oldest poem we know of is the Epic of Gilgamesh which dates back to circa 2000 BCE. The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem like the Odyssey. Epic poems are long poems with a heroic main character who usually sets off on extraordinary quests of great significance to them or their culture. Among the many different types of poetry, two of the most famous types are sonnets which were famously written by Shakespeare, and Haikus, originating in Japan. A sonnet is a 14-line poem that revolves around a single issue or idea and takes a turn about 8 lines through called a ‘volta’. Haikus are much shorter, consisting of three lines, the first having 7 syllables, the second having 5, and another 7 on the last line. They usually describe nature or the seasons using imagery.
William Shakespeare is assumed to have been born in April and died on April 23, 1616. He is recognized as one of the best poets in the world because of his numerous sonnets and plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Sonnet 18 (Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day), and Hamlet. Another great poet of note is Homer. Homer, predating Shakespeare by around 2000 years, is credited with writing the epic poem “The Odyssey” which follows Odysseus’ journey home from war. Matsuo Bashō, who lived during the 17th century like Shakespeare, is considered the master of haikus. He is known for writing the haiku “The Old Pond” which describes a pond where a frog jumps in and makes a splash.
Poetry isn’t all about the old, famous writers and their work. It’s also about creativity and self-expression. Poetry can help people to cope with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Sometimes writing down how you feel is easier than saying it out loud to someone and poetry and writing in general is an excellent way to turn feeling into art.
April is not just about beautiful weather and blooming flowers; it’s also a perfect time to celebrate the power of poetry. And don’t worry, if you feel like you’ve missed your chance to celebrate there is a National Poetry Day that is typically celebrated annually on the first Thursday of October. But feel free to write at all times of the year. Poetry is for everyone, all the time, anywhere.
