National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.This year, William O. Schaefer will celebrate National Poetry Month by creating “Book Spine Poetry“!
Poetry does not have to fit in a box. It does not have to rhyme or contain complex meter. A poem’s meaning does not have to hide. Poetry does not have to be romantic or “girly.” Most of all…anyone can be a poet! And that means YOU!
I hope this activity will inspire you to keep celebrating poetry all year long!
How to Create “Book Spine Poetry”:
- Choose a partner.
- Write your name and your partner’s name on 2-5 strips of paper.
- Together, select 2-6 books.
- Using the strips of paper as your shelfmarkers, remove the books from the shelf.
- Stack the books on a table using the titles of the books to create your poem.
- Align the spines so you can easily read the poem.
- Grab an iPad. Take one fabulous photo of your “Book Spine Poetry!” Make sure you can read the poem!
- Find your shelmarkers and return the books to their proper place on the shelf.
- Enjoy your “Book Spine Poetry” in the slide show below!
Poem in Your Pocket Day 2018 is on April 26 and is part of National Poetry Month. On this day, write a poem, select a poem, carry it with you, and share it with others at home, school, bookstores, libraries, playgrounds and buses!
Share with me your favorite poem or original poem and I will share it on Twitter using the hashtag #pocketpoem #pocketpoemWOS!
