National Poetry Day

National Poetry Day which takes place on 28 September 2017 is all about celebrating poetry both new and old.

The theme for 2017 is ‘Freedom’.  So if you’ve got a bright idea and can light up someone’s day, why not have a go at writing a poem?

Looking at the excellent poetry that has come out of our country the UK certainly has a lot to celebrate when it comes to poetry – we’ve produced the likes of the world-famous Coleridge, Keats and Browning who all specialised in romantic poetry – which I love!

And there’s no better-known poet than William Shakespeare!  His sonnets are well known and let me tell you, the Shakespearian rhyme meter takes a bit of getting your head round!  It’s only when you start to study the rhyme and meter in poetry that you realise how complex it all was and begin to admire them all the more.

These poets have stood the test of time for several centuries … but there are many contemporary poets who have approached poetry in different ways.  My favourite is Roger McGough.  He writes for both adults and children with a completely fresh way of looking at the world!

Oh, and check out former Glasgow poet laureate Edwin Morgan’s poem about the Loch Ness Monster.  This was once read out to me, and was like nothing I’d heard before!  If you can remember, try to read poetry out to people, as the words have been designed to sound better when read aloud.

At the National Poetry Day website, you can search for events in your area and find out all about poetry readings and workshops happening near you.

And, at The Poetry Society website, you can check out all the details of past National Poetry Days to get you in the mood.  You can also make donations to help fund this this great arts organisation who are trying to make poetry available to everybody, no matter what their background.

You can always just celebrate the day in a more traditional way though – with a good book of poetry and a nice cup of tea on the sofa!