10 Ways to Celebrate #NationalPoetryMonth: Part 2 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

10 Ways to Celebrate #NationalPoetryMonth: Part 2

From Reading Your Favorite Song Like Shakespeare To Haiku Death Matches

11
10 Ways to Celebrate #NationalPoetryMonth: Part 2
Classroom Jr.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful National Poetry Month so far! I wanted to check in and provide another set of ten ways in which you can celebrate this fabulous month. Each week, I will be providing an additional 10 ways so that you are inspired to do poetry-related things ALL MONTH LONG! You can see the first ten and this article will begin with Task #11!

11. Support a small press!

You can read my list of awesome small presses. If yours isn't on the list, feel free to send them extra love and support! Many small presses ask for donations or shared links to get their publicity up. Feel free to donate as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. It means so much! Pro tip: You can usually find donations on a press's Submittable page OR you can submit your own work (see below) and make it a paid submission.

12. Submit 30 poems to 30 publishers!

There are many lists of publishers out there. And many are accepting submissions year-round. Get your work out there and see where it takes you. For great lists of publishers, check out DMC's and PW's. Pro tip: Even if 29 out of 30 poems get rejected, you still are now a published poet. Pretty awesome, right?

13. Take a poet out for coffee!

This may be the easiest task ever, but trust me, it makes a difference. Poets often joke about living off of a "poet's salary," which basically consists of chapbook sales, performances and slam winnings. So, not a whole lot. By taking a poet out for coffee, it means you understand how hard they work and how valuable their work is. Pro tip: If you know of an indie coffee shop with a nice vibe to it, definitely take your poet there.

14. Check out writing prompts!

Since it is National Poetry Month, there is a National Poetry Month website with National Poetry Month prompts. They add a new one every day. Pro tip: If you stick to their agenda, you could end up having your website/blog shared!

15. Read 15 seconds of Shakespeare!

A year or so back, many famous actors read their favorite songs in Shakespearean style in 15 seconds. Check some of them out above. Pro tip: Find a camera, create your own and share!

16. Subscribe to a Poem A Day!

The Academy of American Poets has a nifty little device that you can sign up for called Poem-A-Day! It gives you a different poem every day. Pro tip: Keep this going even after National Poetry Month is over to receive a year's worth of awesome poems!

17. Hire a poet!

Try hiring a poet on commission to write a poem for you in whatever style you'd like. Of course, ask to make sure the poet is okay with it first, but then keep and cherish this absolutely uniquely designed poem that was written just for you. That's a pretty special gift. Pro tip: This can be a 'treat yourself' gift, a gift for a family member or a gift for a significant other. Whatever it is, it will be unforgettably special and unique.

18. Try to write a political poem!

Taylor Mali, as in the clip above, teaches us how to write a political poem. Of course, great humor and irony are necessary for this to occur. Pro tip: Try writing your own political poem based on the elements Taylor Mali provides in the video.

19. Create and film a Poetry Video!

Above is an example, which is Sierra DeMulder's "Today Means Amen," as filmed and produced by Button Poetry. Pro tip: Grab a camera and a poet and see what you can create!

20. Engage in a Haiku Death Battle!

Above is a Haiku Death Match from the National Poetry Slam a few years back. Naturally, yours doesn't need to be this large-scale, but it definitely can be. Pro tip: Get a few friends together, write some haikus, and battle to the death!

I'll be back next week with more! For now, have a happy National Poetry Month!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Iconic Duos: Timeless Legends

From Luke and Leia to Beyonce's twins...

774430
Luke and Leia from Star Wars, a iconic duo
Lucasfilm

“Name a more iconic duo... I'll wait." OK, well, if you insist. In no particular order, here's a list of 100 iconic duos that seem to be timeless.

SEE MORE: This Is The ICONIC Disney Sidekick You Are To Your BFF, According To Your Zodiac Sign

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

College Life: As Told By Bob's Burgers

If there's anyone who understand the struggles of college, it's the Belcher family

626
Bob's Burgers

College is a time of gaining independence, exploring new things, and copious amounts of Netflix. If you're like me, you often find yourself laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of the situations you find yourself in. Here are ten times Bob's Burgers accurately captured college life.

1. What you're pretty sure your upstairs neighbors do at 3am every morning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Why Theater Kids Are the Greatest People Ever

Supportive and spontaneous human beings are the best.

484
Theater Kids

Throughout school, the theater department has always been my go-to place with go-to people when I need advice, a dance party, or just someone to listen to me vent.

You never know what's going to happen when you're dealing with theatre or what kind of characters you'll encounter. We have too much fun doing anything! One time in my senior year acting class, we spent an entire class period watching Bob's Burgers, and it was the greatest class period ever.

Keep Reading...Show less
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

7293
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments