Poem in Your Pocket Day

Guess what folks?  I'm going to get you to Read Even More.  I'd apologize, but I'm not the least bit sorry.  

April 17, 2008, is the first National (USA) "Poem in Your Pocket" day run by the Academy of American Poets.  (April is also National Poetry Month in the USA and NaPoWriMo [National Poetry Writing Month] on dA and elsewhere).  It asks people to choose one poem and keep it in their pocket all day, at the ready, so they can share it with at least one other person.

Taken from Poets.org:

Held during National Poetry Month in New York City for the last five years, Poem In Your Pocket Day is marked with festivities in classrooms, parks, libraries, bookstores, workplaces, and other venues where readers unfold their pocketed poems and read in celebration of the visions of poets.

Finding a Pocket Poem


If you'd like to find a dA poem to feature and present (which we strongly encourage), here are a few tricks for finding new poets and poems:

  If you haven't in a while, take a walk through your Favorites.  Sometimes I've forgotten what I ed, and it's always nice to be pleasantly surprised all over again.

  Do the Favorites Hop!  Start in a Collection or Favorites Gallery of one of your dA friends, and hop from poem to poem or person to person until you find a new poem that really hits home.

  Browse the poetry gallery.  Pick a new category of poetry that you never read (or maybe even one that you do), and browse through the newest submissions or, alternatively, the "most popular" submissions from the last month or so.

  Poll people for their favorite dA poems or poets and check out the responses.  You can also check the "Newcomers" by bouncing links from this journal or this news article.

  Check out :devtheunknownaritsts: or DailyDeviants

  Read the Daily Deviations.  There have been some wonderful poems featured lately and, if you missed them, they're worth looking at.

  Check out the NaPoWriMo list on lovetodeviate's journal and then browse the NaPo submissions.  When you have some great poets producing poetry every single day, new favorites are bound to happen!

Think other people would really love your dA pocket poem?  Suggest it for a DD!


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However, dA poets aren't the only poets who deserve love!  During National Poetry month, the Academy of American Poets offers poetry-related activities every day.  A few suggestions I found compelling and inspiring--and that I thought might help you find your pocket poem--can be found in links below:

  Revisit a poem you loved when you were young and/or Give a poem you didn't like (and haven't read in a while) another try.

  Google a poem

  Read a poem a day (without having to leave your email box)

  Join the Poetcast

  Browse Life/Lines

Other Poetry Resources

  Favorite Poem Project sponsored by Boston University
  The Poetry Library
  Council of Literary Magazines and Presses



Who Can Participate?


This is open to every single member of deviantART.  You need not be a writer, poet, or participant in the dA Literature community to be a poetry lover and appreciator.  Your Pocket Poem is your pocket poem.

Sure, we want to expose dA poets and expand dA Lit's reach out into the real world, but sometimes it's nice to have the real world wind up back on dA, too.



What Makes a Good Pocket Poem?


Answer the poll and get involved!  Should a good pocket poem be personal, emotional, inspirational?  Should it represent excellence in craft and design, with an amazing command of conventions and devices?  What makes you want to share a poem with another person?

Not too sure about pocket poems?  Well, join in this discussion about what makes a poem a "classic" or tell dA what your favorite poem is and why.  Remember that the "why" is as important as the what!


Pocket Poem Plan


You have until 14 April to find and choose a poem for your pocket (whether it's a figurative dA pocket or your literal pocket).

Once you have chosen your pocket poem (and yes, I know it's going to be hard to choose just one), you have several options:

For dA Poems: Please post the link to the poem/deviation in a comment to this article.  Try to include a 1-3 Sentence blurb about why you've chosen the poem or why you think it is important for other people to hear and see that poem.

For non-dA Poems:  Please include the author and title of the poem and, where possible, a link to the poem.  You may also mention, in 1-3 sentences, why you've chosen that poem and/or why you think it's important for other people to hear/see it.  Due to copyright laws and publishing we cannot promise that poem will be featured, but it will be added to the list.  A 2-4 line quotation from the poem is entirely acceptable, though, so keep that in mind in case you'd like to include it in your comment.


  Then What?


On 17 April I'll post a feature or two dedicated to dA's Pocket Poems--both on-site and off--that dA users want to share "in celebration of the visions of poets."  Keep in mind that this is a great way to show your love and appreciation of poetry both on and off the site.  Indeed, the purpose of Pocket Poem Day is to spread exposure and share writing that has made each of us feel and to express the importance of the written arts to our world.

Want to take it a step further?  Feature your dA Pocket Poem in your journal, write a review of a published poem and submit it to dA, spread some commentary and critique, and just keep in mind that all those NaPo folks could really use your love, support, and encouragement on the 17th and every other day from now 'til May.


Stay tuned for other NaPoWriMo and Pocket Poem activities!