April is National Poetry Month, and the Free Library of Philadelphia is offering a variety of events and programs to honor the power of poetry.
Launched in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, this monthlong celebration shines a spotlight on the vital role poets play in culture and the enduring impact of poetry. According to Poets.org, April has grown into the world’s largest literary celebration, with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets alike coming together to honor the art form’s significance.
“Poetry is a celebration of the power of words to inspire, connect, and transform,” said Kelly Richards, President and Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia. “At the library, poetry opens doors to new perspectives, strengths, and communities, and it reminds us of the beauty found in language. This April, we invite everyone to explore the magic poetry offers us.”
The Free Library of Philadelphia will celebrate National Poetry Month with several events and activations at branches across the city.
It’s Literature Department will host the 30th Anniversary season of Monday Poets. The Monday Poets series aims to inspire and connect poets and community members across the city of Philadelphia, according to organizers. This year’s theme is Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah), a Twi word from the Akan Tribe of Ghana, which loosely implies that to move forward, one must “go back and get it.”
In that spirit, each event will feature a past Monday Poet and introduce a new one. The next event will take place on Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m., at the Literature Department at Parkway Central Library and feature Lawrence Dugan and Gabriel Ramirez.
Next up, A Voice for Peace, Concord and Harmony: XI International Poetry Festival in Philadelphia will take place at PhillyCAM on Wednesday, April 23, at 6 p.m. This free event is presented by the Free Library of Philadelphia, Acción Colombia and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Temple University, and according to organizers, “will unite poets from Latin America and the United States for a night of verse and music.”
Coffee & Conversations: Open Mic Spoken Word Night will take place at Walnut Street West Library on Tuesday, April 22, at 4:30 p.m. The program’s theme, Words That Carried Us, invites guests to reflect on the poetry, lyrics, and stories that shaped you—and to share the words that keep you moving forward.
And finally, on April 29, at 5:45 p.m., a Grid Books Celebration- A Poetry Reading will take place at the Literature Department at Parkway Central Library. The event is a collaboration with Moonstone Arts Center and will feature poets from Grid Books Press.
Philadelphians are encouraged to visit neighborhood libraries to see what programs are available. For a complete, up-to-date listing of all events, visit freelibrary.org/calendar.
