Did you know April is National Poetry Month? Celebrations of poets and their work are held each April by the Academy of American Poets and other groups. Learn more at poets.org April 23, 1564 was also Shakespeare’s birthday. Thanks again to the niece and her husband who took me to his birthplace in person some years ago.
Poetry’s singsong rhythm fascinated me from the time I first heard rhymes. I’m not sure what age I was or which poem. I know that by third grade I was making up rhymed adventure stories my classmates loved. One became one of my four published children’s book, The Adventures of Little Big Chief—the Bear Hunt, and won an international contest.
Poetry became my favorite way to record fun or heart-concerning emotions. I’ve saved most of my poems. In university, my three roommates made a wall poster naming me The Mad Prussian Poet (my German heritage is Prussian).
Have you written poetry, mad or otherwise? It’s a great stress-reliever and it’s intensely satisfying to find the exact words to showcase events and situations. I love remembering one granddaughter in first grade thrilled to discover rhyming words and rattling them off—book, look, cook, hook, took, nook . . . a girl after my own heart.
I began other writing—non-fiction and then fiction. I’ve published four historic novels and my travelogue-memoir, A Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel: Adventures, Wit, and Wisdom. There are more books in the works. Stay tuned.
I spend half of each year in Mississippi. I’m gradually become known in this small, sweet town. I’ve spoken at the local Kiwanis and at the town library. A local news reporter interviewed me. On April 2nd, I was walking through my neighborhood when the mailman slowed his truck. “You’re on the front page of today’s paper,” he said. The story continued to page 2. Here’s the photo.
Although April is National Poetry Month, we’re not limited to writing poetry or anything only then. Who’s your favorite poet? Which poem? Why? Have you written? Has it pleased your heart to express your thoughts in just the right package and tie them with a bow? No matter what age you are, if you haven’t begun, please consider. It’s never too late to start.
My books are available on Amazon and other sites. Or contact me to buy signed copies.
I hope your April was wonderful and that your May is blessed and lovely.
If you like this blog, you might also enjoy August 9, 2022 Jokes make us better storytellers and July 26, 2022 Word Games are a sign of intelligence. Also try April 23, 2022 World Book Day (and Talk Like Shakespeare Day) but that’s okay because Shakespeare filled many books.
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