“April is National Poetry Month. To celebrate this special occasion, the New York City Department of Education, in collaboration with the Office of the Mayor, Department of Cultural Affairs, City University of New York, and the New York Times, is co-sponsoring the third annual Poem In Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 21, 2005. New Yorkers are encouraged to carry a poem in their pocket and share it with friends, family, coworkers and classmates. Public schools throughout the five boroughs will highlight poetry on this day through readings by CUNY poets, poetry workshops and specifically designed lesson plans. Tuck a poem in your pocket and see what surprises may come your way. What will your poem be?”
The name for this day comes from Beatrice DeRegniers’ poem, Keep a Poem in Your Pocket. Be sure to choose your poem today and carry it with you tomorrow–especially if you live in New York City. However, the rest of us can participate, too.
How about every blog posts a poem tomorrow?
And if you go out, keep a poem in your pocket or purse.
My urchins are required to bring a poem to morning devotional time tomorrow.
I did this at my school last year. During the month of April if a student got “caught” with a poem in their pocket and could read it to me or another teacher they got a small prize.
It was so much fun. It took the pressure off them to memorize it but after a month of reading it many of them had the poem memorized.
Cool idea! I’m going to go find mine now!