April showers bring May…poems? Maybe! I get our gut reaction when we hear ‘poem’ might be resistance, reluctance, and, honestly, downright boredom. 

BUT. Did you know there is scientific evidence that reading even one poem daily can make your life richer, deeper, and more meaningful? It’s true! You can follow that rabbit right here – Here’s What Happens In Your Brain When You Read a Poem.

Now for some stats. April is poetry month! Why? Honestly, no one really knows. But April 27th is Poem in Your Pocket Day! 

What Is Poem In Your Pocket Day?

I’m glad you asked! Poem in Your Pocket Day began in 2002 in New York City. The mayor…yadda yadda, this isn’t that kind of article. It started, and now here is how YOU can get started:

Write a poem! Yes! A sloppy, terribly written poem about tulips or your dog Barney or whatever, it doesn’t matter. Then…and this is key…SHARE IT. 

Yep. If you’re sharing on social media, you can use the hashtag #pocketpoem. What have you got to lose except your pride and, between us two, hasn’t that ship already sailed?

Should I, like, read a poem before I write one?

Sure. And because I am all the amazingness, here are a few books to get you started:

A Year With Rumi (Daily readings) by Coleman Barks. Pull in one poem a day and watch your life transform. They are short, powerful, and lovely.

Here are a few others I haven’t read but are on my Bookshop waitlist. 

Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver presents a personal selection of her best work.

The 100 Best Poems of All Time by Leslie Pockell. This is rated well and benefits from having a selection of different poems and poets. This is a good start if you aren’t sure what kind of poems you like.

I will leave you with a short poem by Rumi – so you can already say you’ve started practicing being a poet:

Don’t Let Your Throat Tighten

Don’t let your throat tighten
with fear. Take sips of breath
All day and night, before death
closes your mouth.

Rumi 1207-1273