National Poetry Month

Inspired by Black History month, The Academy of American Poets  worked with a variety of interested parties including teachers, publishers, booksellers, librarians, and of course poets to figure out the many ways poetry could be celebrated.  They concluded April was a great month for the celebration, and on April 1, 1996, President Bill Clinton proclaimed April to be National Poetry Month. 

 

Following the Academy’s lead, Writers’ Morning Out has posted a poem-a-day during April since WMO’s inception in 2010.

“Farewell Johnny Mack” by Neil Smith

Johnny Mack Brown may

Be in the ground   but

I remember his All American self rein whipping

his palomino   Reno   to go faster   faster

Through the canyon   past the cacti

In hot pursuit of shady guys

With really bad mustaches.