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.

“Sonnet 1 ” by Linda Blotzer

I won’t forget the Red-winged Blackbirds’ song
They sing, O Conk-er-ree O Conk-er-ree
Return of Spring, they flock one million strong
I never heard them here before, you see

I cannot spy them, though, in trees too high
They sat on swaying cattails by our lake
O Conk-er-ree, O Conk-er-ree, one cries
His glossy feathers shine, make no mistake

He puffs his shoulder patches yellow, red
Protecting home, his mates and chicks
O Conk-er-ree, O Conk-er-ree, I said
They stopped their tumbling songs so quick to quit

I’m here, also, old friends, O Conk-er-ree
Can you hear me, I said. Can you hear me?