As I strive to become a better listener and to connect more with my
sense of hearing, National Poetry Month 2026 finds me writing daily,
handwritten, index card poems inspired by sounds and listening.. I have begun a new
notebook to collect the sounds I notice throughout the month, and I will
reflect on them in short poems. My ears - and my heart - are open wide.
I invite you to join me in this project, on any of my projects from the past 16 years,
or on a project of your very own. To do so, simply write a
poem each day of April in any way you wish. Share or don't share, as
you wish. Your poems are your poems. Your projects are your projects.
And if you wish learn a bit more about writing poetry, I welcome you to
the short lessons in the tab above: COAXING POEMS VIDEOS - 2024.
National Poetry Month 2026 Poems
Here is poem 28 -
Students - Popcorn is one of my favorite foods. When I was a little girl, my dad would often pop a big pot of popcorn on the stovetop. I loved to hear the sizzle and the dings, smell the butter and salt, and crunch those warm and perfect little clouds of goodness. I still make popcorn this way - on the stovetop, in a big pot, with sizzly oil. Yes, I will happily eat microwave popcorn or bags of gas station or grocery store popcorn. I will eat any kind of popcorn. But at least weekly, I pop popcorn on the stovetop, just like my dad. And should I be alone for dinner, this will often BE the dinner. I like making caramel corn, and recently, I found my Grandmother Geraldine's recipe for popcorn balls. These are in my future.
Today's poem was a joy to write. I kept imagining making popcorn and then made some. I also read the lines aloud many times while drafting. I wanted the poem to feel playful and a little bit rushed and exciting (I can never wait to eat popcorn), and so enjoyed repeating words with different line breaks too. I am hoping that the movement of the two repeating word lines feels like the movement of kernels heating up and popping across the hot oil.
Some foods make no sounds. Some foods make lots of sound. What noisy foods do you like to eat? And remember, writing can be a joy, can be fun. Read your words aloud and switch things around until the words feel just right to you. This type of work is what I call "fun work."
This week, I am again in residence Seely Elementary School in
the Edgemont School District in Scarsdale, NY for four days full of assemblies and writing
with all of the K-4 students. I cannot wait to see these writers and
read to read their poetry again.
To
learn about many of the wonderful National Poetry Month projects
happening online this April, visit the generous Jama Rattigan at Jama's Alphabet Soup.
May you learn to make your own favorite snacks and share them with those you care about.
xo,
a.
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