Treat yourself at the end of the year and listen to a poem, such as Al Young reading  "What December Remembers." I appreciate Al Young sharing with us his distillation of California experiences in verse by reading a poem a month all through 2012. His reflections lift me above my immediate concerns; his references comfort me with an intense identity with the people and the land of California.

Knowing time never returns, I try to remember my days by marking the natural rythms and wonders surrounding us. And the march of our days are better accented and appreciated by reading some poems. Among the numerous poetry sites, Poetry Foundation provides direct access to some seasonal poems and holiday poems that are good to explore (and listen to.)

There are volumes and volumes of poetry in the library collections awaiting you. If you would like to  sample poetry that’s rather timeless, then try to look up World poetry : an anthology of verse from antiquity to our time please.

It’s almost time to say goodbye to 2012 –

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
 And never brought to mind?"

 We are happy to announce that we are bringing back our Vineland Poetry Podcast! We have posted seven new poems since our hiatus and we’re not stopping now. Back in April of 2010, we started a weekly podcast where staff members would read a variety of poems for our customer’s listening pleasure. Over two years have passed and we’ve returned with the posting of our 70^thpoem! That’s 70 poems read by our library staff! We have a huge collection of recorded poems from the short and funny to the long and dramatic, including favorites from Poe, Shakespeare, Frost, Dickinson, and more. We’ve also included links to our catalog so you can check out books of poetry from the highlighted author. We hope you’ll visit our page and scroll through our poems to give some of them a listen. Thanks again for listening and we hope you enjoy our Vineland Poetry Podcast! 

April is National Poetry Month! Help your child discover poetry by checking out the library’s children poetry collection. Here are some recommended books to get your child excited about poetry:

Poetry Books

The New Kid on the Block: Poems by Jack Prelutsky

A collection of funny poems about strange creatures and people such as Baloney Belly Billy and the Gloopy Gloopers.

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (Various Authors)

A varied and complete collection of more than 550 poems by various poets, including Emily Dickinson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Lewis Carroll, Ogden Nash, and Shel Silverstein.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

This is a masterful collection of humorous poems and drawings by Shel Silverstein that will engage readers.

Learn to Write Poems

Haiku Activities : Asian Arts & Crafts for Creative Kids by Patricia Donegan

Introduces the form of Japanese poetry known as haiku, explores the seven keys to writing haiku, and provides instructions for five haiku projects, including creating haiga, or illustrated haiku.

Pizza, Pigs, and Poetry: How to Write a Poem by Jack Prelutsky

Featuring personal anecdotes and an abundance of information, this is a humorous guide, filled with poetry exercises, ideas, projects, and pointers that teaches readers how to write poetry.

Poem-Making: Ways to Begin Writing Poetry by Myra Cohn Livingston

Introduces the different kinds of poetry and the mechanics of writing poetry, providing an opportunity for the reader to experience the joy of making a poem.

More Ways to Celebrate

Besides reading and writing poems, here are other ways that you and your child can celebrate National Poetry Month, according to Lily Jones and Skila Brown from www.education.com/magazine/article/Celebrate_Poetry:

• Memorize a poem together.
• Write poems about various things and occurrences at home.
• Read a short poem before a family meal, such as breakfast or dinner.
• Take a notebook and go on a walk. Be ready to write a poem or phrases about various things that you or your child would observe.
• Have a poetry slam by inviting other kids or adults over to read poems aloud.

And as always, you can ask a Youth Services Librarian to help you find more poetry resources at your local library branch.