As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my
sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily,
handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening.. I have begun a new
notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will
reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide.
I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years,
or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a
poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as
you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects.
And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to
the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.
National Poetry Month 2026 Poems
Here is poem 17 -
Students - Did you ever laugh so hard you cried? Laugh so hard you almost forgot why you were laughing? Laugh so hard in a place where you should not be laughing at all? I have done all three, and each time, I feel more full, more me. Laughter, is, indeed like a good meal. And if you noticed that my poem is a metaphor (a poem that compares one thing to another) with the title as the thing I compare laughter to....you got it! Laughter is a good meal. Both make us feel full of goodness.
Go ahead and try this if you wish. Think of a sound. Compare that sound in your poem to another thing in the world, but do not name that thing. Instead, let that second thing become the title of your poem!
Heidi is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at my juicy little universe with a lively recorded conversation about teaching poetry to elementary aged students.. Each Poetry Friday, all are invited to share poems,
poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming
poetry community.
To
learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects
happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup.
Tell a joke! Make someone laugh today!
SNORT!
xo,
a.
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I never really thought that much about the role our hearing plays in all aspects of our lives until my son was diagnosed with hearing loss, and we realized just how different your world can seem when you don't hear the same way as most people!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to coax a poem, Amy! Listening! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea: "Think of a sound. Compare that sound in your poem to another thing in the world, but do not name that thing. Instead, let that second thing become the title of your poem! "
ReplyDeleteThree cheers for more laughter! (see what I did there? cheers...laughter...now I'm making myself giggle!!)
ReplyDelete"A doo doo doo, a da da da, that's all I want to say to you!" --The Police
ReplyDeleteNo, Amy, that's not all.! I had a pleasurable surprise when I realized at the end of your poem that no literal meal was being eaten, because YES, laughing beyond control DOES fill us up like good food. Laughter is dense, nutritious air passing through!