Dickinson, Frost, Angelou, Hughes, Whitman . . . the names alone conjure up a rush of "the feels." These names inspire. They are worthy of remembrance, but that's not enough. National Poetry Month is a call to not only remember these inspirational artists, but also to think about and share how their work and the art form it embodies has endured to influence millions of lives. Poetry extends across cultures and generations and you have a role to play in that.
Why Poetry Matters
While it's easy to get suffocated by the sensationalism of modern life, poetry offers a fresh breath of authentic humanity at its most beautiful and vulnerable core.
Poetry often reminds us that experience can be expressed in deceptively simple ways, without offering any absolutes. An ageless tradition, poetry is often seen as harkening back to more interpretative and introspective times, when knowledge of our world was not so black and white.
That's the beauty of poetry. What it is to one person may not be what it is to another, but it is something to everyone. So simply stated, we believe the world needs more poetry, and we support National Poetry Month and poets.
About National Poetry Month
Founded in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month brings together millions of people from across the nation—students, teachers, librarians, booksellers, publishers, poets, and more—in support of the art of poetry.
Throughout the month of April people from all walks of life are encouraged to read, write, and talk poetry. The goal: to bring the importance of poetry to the national forefront. This includes such activities as:
- Remembering, supporting, and celebrating poets—past and present
- Encouraging the reading of poetry
- Bringing poetry to the attention of local and national media
- Giving poetry a bigger stage in the classroom
- Getting more poetry into the world
Don't forget Poem in Your Pocket Day! Celebrated every year on a day within National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day will take place in 2024 on April 18.
It's easy to participate. Here are just a few ideas:
- Email a poem to family members, friends, or co-workers to raise poetry awareness and share the love
- Share a poem on social media using the hashtag #PocketPoem
- Add a poem to your email footer for the day
- Record a video of you reading a poem and post it on social media
How IngramSpark Supports Poetry
Everyone can get their poetry published, and IngramSpark has all the tools you need to help share your poems with the world.
- Want to publish your poems as an ebook? Go ahead.
- Want to self-publish a poetry anthology in multiple hardcover volumes? Done.
- Want to create your volume in both print and digital? We're happy to help.
Self-publishing can be one of the most liberating forms of literary self-expression. IngramSpark follows suit by offering poets and writers a wide range of formatting and binding options. While some book types work better for poems than others, we give poets the freedom to choose exactly how they want to frame their verse.
- Multiple book types and trim sizes
- Standard color printing or bold black and white
- Various cover options and paper types
Self-publishing a poetry book to share with the world is very much within your reach. Alongside a wide range of book types and trim sizes, we provide access to the tools and support you need to publish a well-polished book of poetry, made readily available to poetry lovers, booksellers, and librarians across the globe.
- Easy access to global distribution
- Self-publishing guides and online training
- Dedicated support from self-publishing pros
As an aspiring or professional poet you are already playing a huge role in National Poetry Month. Now is your chance to take that role even further. Because the world needs more poetry—see how IngramSpark can help you become a published poet.
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