As a special collaboration for this year's National Poetry Month in April, the leading membership-based poetry organizations that sponsor the month in the United States and Canada—the Academy of American Poets and the League of Canadian Poets—have created a guide for families, schools, and businesses to inspire and assist with local Poem in Your Pocket Day celebrations. The guide features poems by contemporary U.S. and Canadian poets.

Poem in Your Pocket Day, a special day during National Poetry Month, will be held on April 21, 2016. On this day each year, people celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with them, and sharing it with others. Poem in Your Pocket Day was initiated in 2002 by the Office of the Mayor in New York City, in partnership with that city's Departments of Cultural Affairs and Education. In 2008, the Academy of American Poets took the initiative to all fifty United States, encouraging individuals around the country to join in and channel their inner bard. In 2016, the League of Canadian Poets will extend Poem in Your Pocket Day to Canada.

"We're thrilled to be working with the League of Canadian Poets this April to promote contemporary poets and poetry in both our countries and across borders. Seeing as we both introduced and organize National Poetry Month, collaboration makes sense," said Jennifer Benka, executive director of the Academy of American Poets.

You can find the free Poem in Your Pocket Day guide and more information at www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/poem-your-pocket-day

About National Poetry Month

Marking its 20th anniversary in 2016, National Poetry Month is the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, bloggers, and, of course, poets marking poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives. Its aim is to:

  • highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of our poets,
  • encourage the reading of poems,
  • assist teachers in bringing poetry into their classrooms,
  • increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media,
  • encourage increased publication and distribution of poetry books, and
  • encourage support for poets and poetry.

For more information about National Poetry Month, visit www.poets.org/npm

About the Academy of American Poets

The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. The organization produces Poets.org, one of the world’s most popular websites for poets and poetry; National Poetry Month; the popular Poem-a-Day series; American Poets magazine; resources for K-12 educators; an annual series of poetry readings and special events; and awards the American Poets Prizes. 

About the League of Canadian Poets

The League of Canadian Poets is the professional organization for established and emerging Canadian poets. Founded in 1966 to nurture the advancement of poetry in Canada, and the promotion of the interests of poets. The League serves the poetry community and promotes a high level of professional achievement through events, networking, projects, publications, mentoring and awards. It administers programs and funds for governments and private donors and encourages an appreciative readership and audience for poetry through educational partnerships and presentations to diverse groups. As the recognized voice of Canadian poets, it represents their concerns to governments, publishers, and society at large, and maintains connections with similar organizations at home and abroad. The League strives to promote equal opportunities for poets from every literary tradition and cultural and demographic background. For more information about the League of Canadian Poets, visit poets.ca.