National Poetry Month in April. Poster with handwritten lettering. Poetry Festival in the United States and Canada. Literary events and celebration. Greeting card, invitation, poster, banner or background. Vector
I have enjoyed being more aware of and reading more poetry this year than ever before. Although I miss celebrating in person with my students during April classes, I did enjoy holding the poetry contest for my online students, and I am happy to report that all three winners were mailed their copies of home body and a nice journal to write their poems in for their winning efforts in the contest.
I did not finish my goal of completing Margaret Atwood’s new poem collection, Dearly (I have not finished digesting the wonderful poems included.), I will keep the signed book and refer to it from time to time when one of the poems surfaces from my subconscious. It was a wonderful gift, a perfect one for a book lover and collector such as I.
I began with a parody, and will end with a lighthearted parody from the same source, Chris Harris’s I’m Just No Good at Rhyming and Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grownups:
“Jack Sprat (Updated)”
Jack Sprat could eat no fat.
His wife could eat no lean.
He lived to be one hundred three;
She died at seventeen.”
Poetry is so many things.
It has been fun, and hopefully you will recommend in the responses poems and collections that have impressed, intrigued, and informed you.
This year (2019) finds me with 50 plus years of teaching "under my belt." I have taught all levels from pre-K "(library lady" or "book lady"--volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 30 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the "difficult years." I had some of the "funnest" experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the "young, fun teacher," I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a "dream-fit" for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching.
Just as teaching is "in my blood," so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish.
This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to "come out and play."
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2 thoughts on “A FAREWELL TO NATIONAL POETRY MONTH, APRIL 2021”
I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed the thin collection of poems from the pandemic, Together in a Sudden Strangeness: America’s Poets Respond to the Pandemic. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3966372428.
Not poetry, but have you read Parnassus on Wheels? It’s completely delightful.
powerfulwomenreaders 
I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed the thin collection of poems from the pandemic, Together in a Sudden Strangeness: America’s Poets Respond to the Pandemic. My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3966372428.
Not poetry, but have you read Parnassus on Wheels? It’s completely delightful.
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LOVED Parnassus! I reviewed it ages ago.
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