5 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. This post is for everyone who thinks that poetry

A) has to be written by introspective, dead people
B) has to rhyme, or
C) is only for people under the age of 12.

Poetry can be written by anyone, about anything. It can rhyme, but it doesn't have to. Most poetry does, however, address something about what it means to be a human, including emotions. Here are five fun ways to get you (and your kids) celebrating.

1. Book Spine Poetry: Arrange books you already have in your house to make a poem. (Here are mine, but check these out too.)

Very serious.

I got this one to rhyme!

I love children's books.

2. Word Clusters: Take 4 words and write a poem out of them. You can mix up the order and add other words too. For instance, I used green, table, rock, and sorrow. (Or make up your own four words and write a poem.)

Moss grows thick on sun-baked rocks,

Which squirrels use as dinner tables.

Sorrow (that blue monstrosity) cannot settle here -

The green moss beat her to it.

3. Ransom Note Poetry: Cut out words of a published poem (or any written piece really). Rearrange them to form a poem. Tape them to a clean sheet of paper. (It helps to enlarge the type before you print out the poem. You also don't have to use every word.)

I used words from "There is another sky" by Emily Dickinson.

4. Sidewalk Chalk Poem: Pick a short poem to write on your driveway or sidewalk with sidewalk chalk. Here is a link with lots of poems you could use.

5. I Love You Because...: Write a short poem about someone you love. It can be romantic or silly.

For Baby

I love your smile

I love your teeth

And when you brush them

They smell sweet.

But if you don't

They'll start to rot.

So love the smile

And teeth you've got.

Visit poets.org for more fun ways to celebrate the month!

Visit Works for Me Wednesday for lots of fun tips.