Sunday, March 31, 2013

April Is National Poetry Month

Share a POEM
with the Young People in Your Life! 
Invite Kids to Write Their Own Poems!

In honor of National Poetry Month, we share with you below one of nineteenth century, American poet Emily Dickinson's poems, "'Hope' is the thing with feathers." Why not take a moment and share it with the young people in your life?  
 
Take turns reciting each stanza. Print copies of the poem and put them in your pocket. Ask young people to write their own poems inspired by hope, faith, nature, family, friends, or something else they cherish!

“Hope” is the thing with feathers
By Emily Dickinson 1830–1886

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.


MORE Fun with Poetry!
To hear and watch actress Claire Danes reading Dickinson's poem, click here.
 
To learn more about poet Emily Dickinson, visit the Emily Dickinson Museum website. Here you will find poetry activities, a Dickinson poem of the week, teacher resources, and information for visiting the Dickinson Museum and properties in Amherst, Massachusetts.
 
To find more poems by Dickinson and other poets, visit your local library or bookstore!
 
To discover more ways you can celebrate National Poetry Month, visit Poets.org

To see a list of recommended poetry books for kids ages 0-9, visit ReadingRockets.org.

To see a list of recommended poetry books for older kids, visit AdLit.org.