National Poetry Month

Established in Canada in April 1998 by the League of Canadian Poets, National Poetry Month brings together schools, publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, communities and poets from across the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada's culture.

National Poetry Month 2024: WEATHER!

Celebrate National Poetry Month 2024 with the theme of WEATHER. Through sun, snow, rain, wind, fog, and many other iterations, we find the captivating presence of weather. With poetic flair, weather dictates the rhythms of our lives from coast to coast.

This April 2024, we invite poets and poetry lovers to delve into the experiences, feelings, and inspiration that weather offers. Whether the serenity of a snowfall, exhilaration of a summer downpour, or the familiar whispers of a gentle breeze, the League of Canadian Poets invites you to explore WEATHER this National Poetry Month – April 2024.

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April is National Poetry Month!

National Poetry Month began in the US in 1996, spearheaded by the Academy of American Poets on the steps of a post office in New York City. There, the story goes, Academy staff members handed out copies of T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Waste Land,” which begins, “April is the cruellest month…” to individuals waiting in line to mail their tax returns. Established in Canada in 1998, NPM now brings together schools, publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, and poets from across the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada’s culture.

 

Each year, the League of Canadian Poets selects a theme to ground our conversations, inspirations, and focus of National Poetry Month. LCP produces posters and bookmarks reflecting this theme, which are free to request for your home, school, library, or community!

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National Poetry Month

Pick up some poetry

There are so many ways to incorporate poetry into your April 2023. The League of Canadian Poets is proud to share our NPM Celebration Collection which includes a variety of  resources, activities, events and of course– poetry! 

Celebrate NPM

National Poetry Month

NPM Event Funding

The League of Canadian Poets offers annual funding for poetry events that take place during National Poetry Month.

National Poetry Month funding opens to applications from January 15 to February 15 annually, supporting digital and in-person events anywhere in Canada that celebrate NPM; open to non-members and associate members)

Application details will be posted here when available.

National Poetry Month

Poem In Your Pocket Day

One day in every National Poetry Month is Poem In Your Pocket Day: an international movement that encourages people to center poetry within their daily interactions. On PIYP Day, select a poem, carry it with you, and share it with others at schools, bookstores, libraries, parks, workplaces, coffee shops, street corners, and on social media using the hashtag #PIYP

National Poetry Month for Kids & Youth

There are so many ways to celebrate National Poetry Month! The League of Canadian poets is proud to offer a wide variety of poetry resources to promote NPM for children and teens, as well as parents, educators and community facilitators.

Poetry to Get Through High School

High School can be tough. Some of the answers can be found in the classroom, but poetry is also a place to find resonance, shared experience, and creativity. Check out this post by Author Nic Brewer for suggestions of poetry for youth readers– no Dr. Suess on this list!

5 Simple Activities to Get Kids Celebrating Nature with Poetry

To help the little ones in your life celebrate National Poetry Month, we came up with a few activities that will help you engage them with poetry, naturally. These are activities you can do indoors or during a quick trip outside because, let’s face it, lots of Canada is still frozen, freezing, or just plain cold in April!

National Poetry Month began in the US in 1996, spearheaded by the Academy of American Poets on the steps of a post office in New York City. There, the story goes, Academy staff members handed out copies of T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Waste Land,” which begins, “April is the cruellest month…” to individuals waiting in line to mail their tax returns. 

Established in Canada in 1998, NPM now brings together schools, publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, and poets from across the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada’s culture.

Learn and discover more about past National Poetry Months: