Celebrate National Poetry Month with Cleveland Public Library and Ohio Center for the Book | #NationalPoetryMonth 2022
April is National Poetry Month! Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, it’s a special time to honor and spotlight the impact that poets and their creative writings have on our culture and creative lives. Cleveland Public Library invites you to celebrate National Poetry Month at a location near you. Upcoming Poetry […]
April is National Poetry Month! Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, it’s a special time to honor and spotlight the impact that poets and their creative writings have on our culture and creative lives. Cleveland Public Library invites you to celebrate National Poetry Month at a location near you.
Upcoming Poetry Events
Check the list of library locations celebrating National Poetry Month.
Weekly Take and Write: Poetry Month
Scholars will learn and practice a different form of poetry each week Examples include Acrostic, Concrete/Shape, Haiku, and Blackout.
Mondays, April 4 – 25
Addison Branch
Children Ages 0-5
National Poetry Month – Poem In Your Pocket
In celebration of National Poetry Month, let’s explore and learn about a variety of types of poetry and create our own pocket-sized poetry.
Monday, April 4 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
South Brooklyn
Children Ages 0-5, Teens Ages 12-18
Pen it Down!
Celebrate National Poetry Month with us. Submit poetry of your own, learn about different styles of poetry, create artwork that is influenced by poetry, and much more!
Tuesdays, April 5 – 26 | 4:00 p.m.
Collinwood Branch
Children Ages 0-5
Making Poetry with Lake Erie Ink
Celebrate National Poetry Month with a hands-on poetry workshop for kids with Lake Erie Ink, ending with a Poetry Slam to showcase the verses you’ve written.
Thursday, April 7 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Rice Branch
Children Ages 6-11, Teens Ages 12-18
Open Mic Poetry Reading
Celebrate National Poetry Month by sharing a favorite or original poem or spoken word.
Saturday, April 9 | 12:30 p.m.
South Brooklyn
Adults
Poetry Readers’ Theater
Poetry comes to life! Join us for an exciting session of live poetry performances. YOU can even be a star performer if you like! We’ll provide scripts and poems, give you some time to practice, and a “stage” on which to perform. You don’t have to be a performer, though. Audience members who just want to watch and enjoy the fun are more than welcome!
Mondays, April 11 | 4:30 p.m.
Fulton Branch
Children Ages 6-11
Wordplay Wednesdays
A word of the day will be selected and teens will see how many other words can be made from that word. April’s Theme is Jazz & Poetry.
Wednesday, April 13 | 4:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch
Teens Ages 12-18
Poetry Slam
Share your own original verses and rhymes at our poetry slam.
Thursday, April 28 | 2:00 p.m.
Rice Branch
Children Ages 0-5, Teens Ages 12-18
Creating in Community: BWCC Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry Writing Workshop
Use storytelling, poetry, and essay writing to explore the past, discuss the present, or imagine a new future. In this free workshop, Black women and girls are invited to learn tools and techniques to amplify their voices and represent their unique experiences and perspectives. This program is facilitated by Michelle R. Smith, Programming Associate for Literary Cleveland, as part of the Black Women Coping in Community (BWCC) series.
Tuesday, May 10 | 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch
Celebrate with Ohio Center for the Book
Virtual Poetry Reading with Kari Gunter-Seymour
A virtual poetry reading with Ohio’s poet laureate, Kari Gunter-Seymour. Gunter-Seymour was born in Warren and raised in Athens County, Ohio. Named Ohio Poet of the Year 2020.
Saturday, April 2 | 1:00 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Virtual Book Discussion: Playlist for the Apocalypse: Poems by Rita Dove
A virtual book discussion on Saturday, April 16, 2022, 3:30 – 5:00 PM. Attendees will read and discuss poems from Playlist for the Apocalypse: Poems by Rita Dove. (Rita Dove will not be attendance at this event.)
Saturday, April 16 | 3:30 – 5:00p.m.
Blackout Poetry Workshop with Michael Nyers
Michael Nyers of Fade into a Blackout Poetry will lead this poetry craft workshop for participants of all ages. NOTE: This is an in-person event; please check the Library’s current mask/social distancing policy.
Saturday, April 23 | 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Main Library – Downtown