Books wait silently
on shelves their covers touching
Let the noise begin
-Juanita Havill
Get in the spirit of Haikus! This is a long-standing Japanese-based poetry that has long been celebrated and adored for centuries. Take a look at some of our book suggestions below, and don't forget to browse more within our collection!
Acrostic -The first letter of each new line spells out a word, message, or the alphabet
Ballad -It is sometimes set to music. A ballad is narrative in nature; this means that it tells a story.
Elegy -A form of poetry in which the poet or speaker expresses grief, sadness, or loss.
Epic -Is a lengthy narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants
Free Verse -Nonmetrical, nonrhyming lines that closely follow the natural rhythms of speech.
Ghazal -Often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love and may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation from the beloved and the beauty of love despite that pain.
Haiku -Consists of three phrases composed of 17 phonetic units in a 5, 7, 5 pattern
Limerick -A type of poem that is humorous or obscene in nature and follows a five-line AABBA rhyme scheme
Ode -An elaborately structured poem praising or glorifying an event or individual, describing nature intellectually as well as emotionally.
Sonnet -A poem of 14 lines that reflects upon a single issue or idea.
Villanelle -A highly structured poem made up of five tercets followed by a quatrain, with two repeating rhymes and two refrains
It is a day that shines a light on how poetry and other creative mediums have helped shape and color many lives throughout history. Whether it be songs, haikus, limericks, sonnets, elegies, or epics, poetry has the power to affect even the hardest hearts and is an example of how far human creativity and expression can stretch beyond its limits. -National Today
Take a look at some of the famous poets who have enriched the literary world, and if you click one, it'll take you to our collection of their works:
Poetry, being a branch of literature, lends us a medium to convey thoughts and feelings by weaving words into simplistic and/or intricate designs using methods like rhyme, meter, metaphors, personification, etc. Much like prose, poetry tells a story and, in this case, it can do so simply by using the number of words in a row or the placement of punctuation in a certain manner. In the old days, if you were a poet, poetry was a means of settling scores with your competitors and reaching new heights of fame. Kings and queens would appoint a poet in their court to sing the ruler’s praises and degrade their enemies. -National Today
Take a look at some of the great poetry written in modern times:
This holiday is to encourage people across the US to express themselves through poetry. Poem in Your Pocket Day was initiated in April 2002 by the Office of the Mayor in New York City, in partnership with the city’s Departments of Cultural Affairs and Education. In 2008, the Academy of American Poets took the initiative to all fifty United States, encouraging individuals around the country to participate. In 2016, the League of Canadian Poets extended Poem in Your Pocket Day to Canada. -Academy of American Poets
Come to the library and pick your poem to keep in your pocket! Spread the word, share your poem with friends and family, or post on your social media. Today is the day to remind yourself to be creative and not to be scared to express yourself.
This information and more info to help you get started, check out these links:
