Dear Poetry Lovers:
Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. As a way to celebrate and learn more about poetry, I have asked my friend, colleague, and member of our region Joy Acey (see bio below) to share her insights through suggested readings and guided practice. Joy has graciously agreed.
Here's the plan.....
On the following days:
Monday, April 2nd
Monday April 9th
Monday April 16th
Monday, April 23rd
... I will forward a post from Joy on our region's LISTSERV. The post will contain a description of a form of poetry, samples to read and enjoy, and suggestions for trying your own hand at creating - keeping in mind that Joy believes the folllowing: "Poets like learning the rules and once they know the rules, each one tries in their own way to break the rules, so we just might have more fun making our own rules and forms."
Then throughout the week, post your own creations and favorite poems to share with each other.
To make your posts easier to find, please use "April is Poetry Month" in the subject line.
Watch for the first of Joy's postings coming soon and then join in on the fun.
Looking forward to your participation on the SCBWI LISTSERV.
Best, as always
Michelle Parker-Rock
Regional Advisor SCBWI AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
*JOY ACEY, The Princess of Poetry, has won prizes for her poetry from the Arizona State Poetry Society, the North Carolina Poetry Society and the Poetry Council of North Carolina. She's published in Highlight's High Five, Footsteps, Main Street Rag, New Review, Kaleidoscope, Urban Hiker, Bay Leaves, Award Winning Poems, Pockets, Ladies Home Journal, Poets for Peace Anthology, Always on Friday and Kids News. She was on the TV game show Joker's Wild and won enough to pay for a trip to Australia. She has lived in England and Japan. She has walked across a volcano in Hawaii and a glacier in New Zealand. She has gone swimming with iguanas in the Galapagos and was in Ecuador during a recent revolution. Prior to her move to Arizona in 2010 she was a performance artist with the Durham Arts Council, Creative Arts in the Public/Private Schools. She teaches workshops in poetry for people of all ages and abilities. She lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband, and a Welsh Springer Spaniel named Spot. She has two grown sons. She blogs daily at www.poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com with a poem and a writing exercise for children.