Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? Do you have a favorite poet? I do. I especially like E. E. Cummings, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, J.V. Cunningham, and Billy Collins. Who is your favorite poet? Don’t have one? This would be a great time to read some poems and find a poet you like.

Poetry is accessible to all readers. I believe that anyone can read a poem and make meaning out of it. I believe that anyone can write a poem. You have feelings. Right? You have thoughts about a matter. Right? Of course you do, you’re a teenager. Then, you can write a poem because poetry helps us to make sense of life around us. Are you in love? Write a poem about it. Are you feeling confused or lonely during this time? Write a poem about it. Share your honest feelings and thoughts on the subject.

During my 20’s, I wrote poetry in order to make sense of life on my path of self-discovery. I was bold enough to attend poetry readings and share my new poems with encouraging audiences in the Atlanta and San Francisco Bay areas. Writing a poem is a great way to capture a memorable experience to share with the world. Writing poetry is a great way to explore painful as well as joyful emotions. I encourage you to go to Poets.org to read poems for teens. Take a break, slow down, find a poem to read:

https://poets.org/poetry-teens

Writing Poems

• Writing poetry allows minds to reflect, imagine and wonder; whether that includes the telling of everyday experiences, or simply creating comical verse. There is no limit to what a poem can be ‘about’.

• Poetry is a method for self-reflection and there is more room for interpretation in poetry.

• There’s no exclusivity. Anyone can write a poem.

Reading Poems

• Many say that poetry is a language in itself, which to some extent it is; a simple verse can involve the reader’s senses, feelings and imagination.

• Poems offer a moment to pause and think, which in the modern world can be a rare yet treasured occurrence.

• Reading poetry can have the power to change the way a person sees the world and how they seem themselves.

(Bullet points from https://www.austinmacauley.com/blog/importance-poetry-national-poetry-day)