Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history. — Plato
Breathe
Let emotion move you
Through thought to fingertips
Then let go
Write
Witness and be one
With pen dancing on paper
Ink as heartblood
Marking the path
Journey
Through swirls and swoops
Steps heavy or light
Curling slantwise or straight-edged
Keen as a blade, soft as petals.
Honoring Poetry
National Poetry Month is an annual celebration of poetry that takes place in the United States and Canada every April. It was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and has since become the largest literary celebration in the world, with millions of poets, schools, libraries, publishers, booksellers, and organizations participating each year. The main objectives of National Poetry Month are to celebrate poetry's vital place in culture, to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry, to support poets and poetry publishing, and to promote poetry reading and writing in schools and communities. Here are some key aspects of National Poetry Month —
History – National Poetry Month was inspired by the success of Black History Month and Women's History Month, both of which aimed to highlight the contributions of marginalized groups to American culture and society. The Academy of American Poets saw an opportunity to similarly celebrate and promote poetry, which often doesn't receive as much attention in mainstream culture as other art forms.
Activities and Events – For the whole of April, a wide range of activities and events take place across the country. These include poetry readings, open mics, workshops, performances, book festivals, and lectures. Many schools, libraries, bookstores, and literary organizations organize special events and programs to celebrate poetry and encourage people to engage with it.
Poem-a-Day – One of the signature initiatives of National Poetry Month is the Poem-a-Day series, where the Academy of American Poets emails subscribers a poem each day throughout April. These poems are selected from a diverse range of poets and styles, accompanied by brief commentary from the editors.
Poetry Contests and Awards – Many organizations host poetry contests and award ceremonies during April to recognize outstanding poets and poetry collections. These contests often cover various categories, such as best poem, best debut collection, or best student poem.
Education and Outreach – National Poetry Month also emphasizes education and outreach efforts to bring poetry into classrooms and communities. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate poetry into their lesson plans. Poets often visit schools to give readings and workshops. Additionally, resources such as lesson plans, discussion guides, and poetry anthologies are made available to educators and students.
Social Media Campaigns – In recent years, social media has played an increasingly significant role in celebrating National Poetry Month, with hashtags like #NationalPoetryMonth and #npm encouraging people to share their favorite poems, lines of poetry, or personal reflections on poetry's impact on their lives.
In essence, National Poetry Month serves as a vibrant and inclusive celebration of poetry's power to inspire, provoke thought, and encourage connections among people of all ages and backgrounds. It continues to grow each year, reaffirming poetry's enduring relevance and importance in contemporary culture.
Writing Poetry by Hand
Handwriting and poetry intertwine gracefully, weaving a symbiotic relationship that transcends the boundaries of language and form. Here's how they harmonize —
Creative Expression – Handwriting and poetry are both vehicles for self-expression, offering us both medium and canvas for our innermost thoughts, emotions, and imaginings. In the delicate strokes of pen on paper, handwriting becomes a visual representation of the poet's inner landscape, capturing the rhythm and flow of thoughts. Poetry likewise weaves words and imagery together to create intricate tapestries of meaning and emotion, inviting us to embark on a shared journey of discovery and wonder.
Personal Touch – Handwriting infuses poetry with an idiosyncratic touch, imbuing each word with the unique essence of the poet's identity. Just as every handwritten letter bears the imprint of its author's hand, every line of poetry carries the imprint of the poet's soul — reflecting their voice, perspective, and lived experiences. With its intimate connection to the writer, handwritten poetry creates a sense of immediacy and authenticity that resonates deeply, forging bonds that transcend time and space.
Flow and Rhythm – Handwriting and poetry share a common flow and rhythm, illustrated by the ebb and flow of words and lines across the page. In poetry, meter and rhyme create a cadence that dances to the beat of the poet's heart, drawing us into a dynamic embrace that transcends the confines of language. Similarly, handwriting possesses its own innate rhythm, shaped by the fluidity of the writer's hand and the tempo of their thoughts. Together they form a symphony of movement and meaning, inviting us to immerse ourselves in the lyrical beauty of the written word.
Visual Aesthetics – Handwriting lends poetry a visual beauty that transcends the confines of the printed page. Each letter, each word becomes a work of art, carefully crafted to evoke a sense of wonder and delight. In the elegant curves and graceful loops of cursive script, handwriting becomes a form of visual poetry, transforming the written word into a feast for the eyes. Whether penned in flowing calligraphy or bold block letters, handwritten poetry engages the senses, inviting us to savor the beauty of language in all its forms.
Emotional Resonance – Handwriting and poetry evoke a deep emotional resonance that touches our hearts and souls. Just as handwritten letters carry the weight of cherished memories and heartfelt sentiments, poetry distills the essence of human experience into a few carefully chosen words. With its raw vulnerability and unfiltered emotion, handwritten poetry speaks to the universal truths that bind us together as human beings, shaping connections that endure long after the ink has dried.
Fundamentally, handwriting and poetry are kindred spirits, interwoven by a shared commitment to the art of expression. Through the delicate dance of pen on paper, they create a symphony of language and form that resonates with the magnificent complexity of our human experience. Handwriting imbues poetry with a personal touch, while poetry breathes life into the written word, transforming it into a timeless testament to the power of the human spirit.
Hand in Hand with EndlessPens
We’ve always supported creativity, knowing that the fountain pens we love and this avocation we cultivate serve as fertile ground for self-expression. With this in mind, let us share some writing instruments that are perfect candidates for weaving handwritten poetry —
Opus 88 Demonstrator Fountain Pen – This is an eyedropper-style fountain pen, with up to 6 ml capacity of ink! A shut-off valve seals the feed off from the barrel when fully closed, minimizing the risk of leakage and burping. By twisting the blind cap and loosening the rod at the rear of the barrel, you increase the ink flow to the feed. During long writing sessions, open the shut-off valve to take advantage of the remarkable ink capacity. Having a demonstrator-type pen body allows visualization of the current ink level and nib while capped.
Pelikan M400 Souverän Fountain Pen – The Pelikan Souverȁn Series pens are meticulously crafted using high quality materials. Distinguishing features such as the striped celluloid overlay and the beak shaped clip make the Pelikan Souveran M400 fountain pen anything but ordinary. Virtually weightless in the hand the 400 Collection poses flexible 14k nibs which are engineered to 100ths of a millimeter for sure strokes and clear lines.
Kaweco Mint Calligraphy Set – The timeless model of the Sport series made of high-quality plastic in a calligraphy pen gift set. The fountain pen is only 10.5 cm in size when closed and can therefore be carried with you without any problems. When the cap is repositioned, the pen lengthens to the usual size of 13 cm. The large set offers a fountain pen, four nibs with line widths of 1.1 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.9 mm and 2.3 mm, 3 protective caps for the interchangeable inserts and 2 packs of original Kaweco ink cartridges in Pearl Black.
Tomoe River Paper Notebook – Tomoe River is a beloved paper among writing enthusiasts who value high-quality materials. Its ultra-thin structure and smoothness make it ideal for fountain and ink pens. The renowned Tomoe River FP paper is now made by Sanzen, ensuring the same exceptional qualities as the original Tomoegawa production. This softcover notebook features thread-bound Tomoe River FP pages, it is a top-notch choice for any writing need.
MD Paper Cotton Notebook – With this soft paper, nothing stands between you and your vision. 20% of the material used for MD Paper Cotton is soft-textured cotton pulp to achieve the best possible comfort when writing or drawing.
Platinum Chou Kuro Ink Bottle – The blackest black ink in Platinum Pen’s history of over 100 years! The new ink, whose blackness has been proven by numerical values, offers an excellent visibility with a clear and intense black color, allowing you to keep memories and records on paper. In addition, its pigment particles prevent the ink from bleeding through onto paper while also being highly water-resistant and fade-resistant after writing, making the ink ideal for writing letters, journals and anything else you want to last a lifetime. Enjoy the true black color like never before. (Note: Regular pen use and proper cleaning are needed.)
Sailor Pigment Ink Bottle – Ultrafine, nano pigment ink developed by Sailor, designed to be water-resistant and easy to clean. Pigment particles bind with paper surface to minimize bleedthrough.
Wearingeul The Black Cat Ink Bottle – The Wearingeul Ink in The Black Cat is an Endless Exclusive for 2023, offering a unique experience for ink enthusiasts. Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's classic literature, this almost black, dark violet ink with medium water resistance features a complementary reddish-copper shimmer for a strikingly haunting look. Enjoy this limited edition bottle before it's too late!
I always write my first draft in longhand, in lined notebooks. I move around the house, sitting where I like, and watch the words spool out in front of me, actually taking a lot of pleasure in the way they look in my strange handwriting on the page.
— Sue Miller
Happy handwritten National Poetry Month!
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Written by @lekzumali
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