Fans of John Keats, Maya Angelou, and Sylvia Plath should rejoice in the month of April, as it is National Poetry Month. First introduced in 1996, the Academy of American Poets thought it was time for the United States to increase their appreciation and awareness of poetry. In 1999, Canada joined in the yearly celebration. During this time, you may find libraries and local organizations holding small gatherings or celebrations, but it’s also the perfect time to give gifts to poetry lovers.
A few gift ideas for poets include:
An International Anthology of Poetry
A Book of Luminous Things offers 344 pages of international poetry in an anthology that captures the emotions and creativity of poets from around the world. The book offers the passion of a variety of American, European, and Chinese wordsmiths – just to name a few.
Sheaffer Calligraphy Maxi Kit
Travel back into time where romantic poets scribbled their verses with quills and ink. Calligraphy pens and ink could make an appealing gift for a poet. For example, Amazon.com carries an assortment of kits, such as the Sheaffer Calligraphy Maxi Kit
, which contains 3 Sheaffer® calligraphy pens, 3 Nibs (fine, medium, broad), 14 assorted Skrip® color ink cartridges, and calligraphy instructions. If you’re worried this gift requires an artist’s touch, the step-by-step instruction booklet illustrates the process in four easy steps for beginners.
Word Play Refrigerator Magnets
An amusing way to encourage creative thinking for a poetry lover is by gifting Word Play Refrigerator Magnets
. With more than 350 magnets in the kit – you’ll have fun forming your own lyrical sentences. The set also contains a pencil and 12 blanks.
Magnetic Poetry – Haiku Kit
Perfect for your refrigerator or magnetic board, this poetry haiku kit centers on creating traditional haikus – 17 syllables – with 5 syllables in the first and last line, and 7 in the middle. Usually, these short poems focus on topics of nature and the seasons. The set offers more than 240 haiku-friendly words and word-fragment magnets.
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children
Help a budding poet’s mind expand with a book specially geared towards their age group. The Random House Book of Poetry for Children
offers a collection of 500 poems, including silly verses and scary poems. Selected by poet and anthologist Jack Prelutsky, the poems focus on kid-friendly topics, such as nature, seasons, living things, children, and home. Poets represented throughout the book include Emily Dickinson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lewis Carroll, and Shel Silverstein. Illustrations are also found on every page. The book is recommended for ages 4 to 11.