National Poetry Month: A World of Poetry | Periscope

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.

 

Title:
Hyer, Helen von Kolonitz | South Carolina Public Radio
Hyer, Helen von Kolonitz | South Carolina Public Radio

Audio

Grades: 6 7 8

"H" is for Hyer, Helen von Kolonitz (1896-1983). Poet, writer. While still in her teens, Hyer published her first poems. She joined the Poetry Society in 1920. Her first poetry collection, Santee...
Comparisons, Part 2 | Tools of the Trade
Comparisons, Part 2 | Tools of the Trade
Episode 6

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

So, Tom used simile and metaphor in his poem. He even gave it a name! Small Victory Like enormous snails a bunch of munching cows cross the road, chewing their cuds as green, gloppy paste drips from...
Comparisons, Part 1 | Tools of the Trade
Comparisons, Part 1 | Tools of the Trade
Episode 5

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Michael Carey's two most basic tools for saying more with less are simile and metaphor. Michael teaches that these tools of comparison add even more meaning to a poem. A simile is a comparison that...
Rhythm and Line Breaks | Tools of the Trade
Rhythm and Line Breaks | Tools of the Trade
Episode 4

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rhythm and Line Breaks There are even more ways that Tom Slack can improve on his word "painting." Michael Carey teaches that rhythm and line breaks are basic tools that add meaning to poems. Like a...
Say the Most You Can...Fewest Words | Tools of the Trade
Say the Most You Can...Fewest Words | Tools of the Trade
Episode 1

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

"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...
What Is Haiku? What Are the Rules?
What Is Haiku? What Are the Rules?
Episode 1

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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...
Grace Freeman | Poets Laureate
Grace Freeman | Poets Laureate
Episode 5

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Grace Freeman S.C. Poet Laureate 1985 - 1986 Grace Freeman was named poet laureate of South Carolina by Governor Dick Riley in 1985. Grace was born in Greenville County, and her poems, stories, plays...
Ennis Rees | Poets Laureate
Ennis Rees | Poets Laureate
Episode 4

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Ennis Rees S.C. Poet Laureate 1984 - 1985 In 1984, Ennis Rees was named the third poet laureate of South Carolina by Governor Dick Riley. At the time, Ennis had been an English professor at the...
Helen von Kolnitz Hyer | Poets Laureate
Helen von Kolnitz Hyer | Poets Laureate
Episode 3

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Helen von Kolnitz Hyer S.C. Poet Laureate 1974 - 1983 Like Archibald Rutledge, Helen von Kolnitz Hyer had a calling to be a poet at a very young age. As a girl, she memorized poems from her aunt's...
Archibald Rutledge | Poets Laureate
Archibald Rutledge | Poets Laureate
Episode 2

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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...
What Is a Poet Laureate? | Poets Laureate
What Is a Poet Laureate? | Poets Laureate
Episode 1

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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...
Emily Dickinson | Poetry All-Stars
Emily Dickinson | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 8

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Emily Dickinson 1830 - 1886 Emily Dickinson rarely left her home in Massachusetts, and her connection to the outside world was usually through letter writing. But Dickinson's creativity seemed to...
Pat Mora | Poetry All-Stars
Pat Mora | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 7

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Pat Mora (1942 - ) Pat Mora is a writer of numerous children's books of poetry and prose. Mora is a native of El Paso, Texas and her work often features local interests, such as her family, the...
Edgar Allan Poe | Poetry All-Stars
Edgar Allan Poe | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 6

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Edgar Allan Poe 1809 - 1849 In 1826, Edgar Allan Poe entered the University of Virginia. He was a successful student, but had a problem with gambling, for which he was forced to leave. After a short...
Rita Dove | Poetry All-Stars
Rita Dove | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 5

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Rita Dove 1952 - In 1987, Rita Dove was one of the youngest poets to win a Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Dove also became the youngest poet laureate of the United States in 1993. Currently, Dove is a...
Robert Frost | Poetry All-Stars
Robert Frost | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 4

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Robert Frost 1874-1963 After a failed attempt at farming in New Hampshire, Frost moved with his wife to England in 1912. There, he was influenced by the great English poets of the day. His friend Ezra...
Maya Angelou | Poetry All-Stars
Maya Angelou | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 3

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928 - May 28, 2014) Dr. Maya Angelou's busy career has included work as a poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, film producer, director, actress, singer, and civil...
Walt Whitman | Poetry All-Stars
Walt Whitman | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 2

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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...
Langston Hughes | Poetry All-Stars
Langston Hughes | Poetry All-Stars
Episode 1

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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...
Poetry Comes in Many Shapes and Colors | A World of Poetry
Poetry Comes in Many Shapes and Colors | A World of Poetry
Episode 22

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

These are only a few types of poetry found throughout the history of the world. In this month's issue of Periscope, you will find that poetry comes in many shapes and colors. It is written for...
Africa, Part 2 | A World of Poetry
Africa, Part 2 | A World of Poetry
Episode 15

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

To The Rain Bringer of wealth Feeder of orphans Fall gently Come and feed us peacefully Oh, fall gently. - Acoli