Poetry is a language spoken around the world.
Although you may not regularly sit down and read poetry, chances are you are exposed to some form of it every day. Do you jump rope? If you do, you may sing a song like this to keep your feet moving.
Down by the seashore, down by the sea,
Johnny broke a bottle and blamed it on me.
I told ma, ma told pa,
Johnny got a spanking, ha-ha-ha!
If you jump rope, sing or rap, you are participating in a form of language art that has been around for thousands of years! Recently, poetry has been reinvented through poetry "slams." At poetry slams, poets perform to a lively, critical audience. But, no matter what form poetry takes, all poems use words to express ideas, feelings, thoughts and images.
National Poetry Month is celebrated in April each year.
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Langston Hughes 1902-1967 Langston's father once discouraged him from writing poetry. He believed discrimination would keep the young Langston from finding success as a poet. But Langston continued to...
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Poetry Is an Ancient Language Art In this image from The Odyssey, Odysseus is seen strapped to the mast of his ship. Most researchers believe that poetry is older than written language itself. The...
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"Say the most you can in the fewest words." - Michael Carey, Poet and Teacher We have explored the importance of poetry to people around the world. There are as many, or more, different types of...
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Poets Laureate of England The tradition of employing a poet as "poet laureate" began with the royalty of England in the 16th century. Poets laureate held an official position in the royal court. The...
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What Is Haiku? "Simply what is happening in this place at this moment." - Matsuo Basho Traditional haiku describes a moment in time using words that awaken the senses. Matsuo Basho, a famous haiku...
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Archibald Rutledge S.C. Poet Laureate 1936-1949 It has been said that "Archie" Rutledge was a born poet. He composed his first piece of poetry at the age of three. It exists in print to this very day...
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Around the World with Poetry People from cultures around the world use poetry for expression, entertainment and communication. Different languages and cultural backgrounds affect why and how a poem is...
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Begin with the basics, not rhyme... The Sea Deep glass-green seas chew rocks with their green-glass jaws. But littles waves creep in and nibble softly at the sand. - Lilith Norman The Things I Hear in...
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Walt Whitman 1819 - 1892 Walt Whitman, "The Great Grey Poet," was born in 1819 on Long Island in New York. At an early age, Whitman began reading the work of Shakespeare and Homer. His love of words...
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Begin with the Basics, Not Rhyme, Part 2 By avoiding the immediate urge to rhyme, the author of a poem can concentrate on its meaning. Enter Tom Slack... This morning, Tom was later to work than usual...
