The day is not highlighted
on iCalendar and Taylor Swift has not, as far as I know, voiced an animated Netflix special in
recognition of the holiday tomorrow.
In fact, unless your near-and-dears are word nerds, specifically
poetry nerds (represent!), they are probably unaware of the quiet celebration planned for April 30th.
For on that
day, fellow nerdlings, in the pockets of trousers, jackets and shirts,
topcoats, capris, vests and skirts, people around planet Earth – or at least a smattering
of Americans – will carry on their persons the words of their favorite bards.
To use just a few more words, Thursday is National Poem in Your Pocket
Day.
A social,
even evangelical, end note to the rollicking rhyme orgy that is National Poetry
Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day (#pocketpoem)
is meant for sharing. Learn more here.
I encourage
you to join the celebration this year. Participation is easy-peasy and will, I promise,
fill you will a delicious sense of improving the world one stanza at a time.
To join the metered chaos, first select a favorite poem. The fact that you are here, reading this, tells me you know a little something-something about prose and already have a favorite poem or two - or thirty - tucked away on a mental shelf.
To join the metered chaos, first select a favorite poem. The fact that you are here, reading this, tells me you know a little something-something about prose and already have a favorite poem or two - or thirty - tucked away on a mental shelf.
Reach up and pull
down that poem, blow off the accumulated thought dust, memory pollen, and desiccated
spider carcasses (i.e. – the dead pods of your own poems. Seriously, you need
to journal that stuff). On Thursday, scrawl out the
poem on a piece of paper, fold it up and pop it into a pocket.
Do you have
friends? Cyber acquaintances? Colleagues? Relatives who are bound by blood and duty to respond
when you text? Great! Send your poem to them. Spontaneously post, text or recite
that poem in your pocket - if it is one of your favorites it must be awesome.
Now go forth and recite.
Now go forth and recite.
Poem in Your Pocket Day – Lucy Walwyn
No posies or hearts
No Be Mine Sweet Tarts.
No stockings or trees
No gift
spending sprees.
No bunting or flares
No rocket’s
red glare.
But poesies
and verse
Tucked into
a purse.
If just for
a day
Stowed
safely away.
A wee work
of art
Kept close
to your heart.
