April is poetry month in the U.S, and this is a spectacular month to celebrate all these influential figures who shaped the literary world that we know today, and it is also a great month to celebrate some of Oakwood’s very own poets. 

Poetry is a common form of self expression world wide, and it has been for a while. The first recorded poetry piece was the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient piece of literature from Mesopotamia, which follows the hero of the story, Gilgamesh. And this holds an important milestone in the history of poetry. Along with that, many of the world’s most famous modern authors would not exist if it weren’t for founding poets, such as Edgar Allen Poe, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson and many more. 

Like most things, poetry is not only a beautiful writing format, it also provides a safe space for self expression, and can hold strong emotional value. It can be seen as a form of release, and a stress reliever. It’s similar to how 22% (Source) of the U.S population keeps a journal or has kept a journal at some point in their lives so they have a place to share their thoughts. 

“I think there is a range of emotions it makes me feel depending on the poetry,” Kate S. (7) said. “I feel like it’s just a good way to express a lot of emotions, and sometimes it just makes me feel very happy to just be able to express my feelings.” 

Another aspect of poetry is how authors choose to express their emotions in their writing. A very common form of poetry is writings containing dark, or melancholy themes so that processing, and/or coping from events will be easier. 

“I definitely have a lot of sadder topics like loss, or messing up, or getting out of things I’m feeling if I’m sad, but there is also more lighthearted ones about friendship,” Callie Hayes (9) said.

When thinking about poetry you might think of Shakespeare, or any other influential figures in poetry, but sometimes inspiration doesn’t always come from the masters. It can come from family, friends, popular forms of media and strong emotions. Some of the greatest poets would write about the various gaffes, and other moments in their lives that would leave a mark on them, and inspire them to write. Nathaniel Upton (11) shares how he used an emotion to inspire a poem. 

“One time I tried making cereal for my brother, but instead of milk I put cooking cream, so for the rest of the day I had a sticky, gross feeling of guilt,” Upton said. “I was still trying to get over the fact that I put cooking cream in his cereal.”

With another April in the books, Poetry Month won’t come around for another year. And with that, we should take some time to recognize all poets during April. Ones who have gone down in history books for being some of the greatest poets ever to live, and those who are pursuing poetry as a hobby, form of self expression and as a release.