April is National Poetry Month. Launched in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month is an annual opportunity to recognize the importance of poetry and poets in our culture. DC Public Library invites you to celebrate with us by joining us for signature events, checking out wonderful books for all ages, participating in the 2024 Haiku Contest and more!
Signature Events
MLK Open Mic
Sunday, Apr. 7, 3:30 p.m. | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
Do you have a song or poem that you wrote or just love to perform? Come out to MLK's Open Mic to share it! Sign up beginning at 3:15 p.m. to take the stage and show us your talents! ASL interpretation is available upon request.
Mt. Pleasant Reads | If They Come For Us
Wednesday, Apr. 17, 7 p.m. | Mt. Pleasant Library
For National Poetry Month we'll be discussing the If They Come for Us by Fatimah Asghar. In this debut volume of poetry, Asghar captures the experience of being a young Pakistani Muslim woman in America, delving into race and sexuality, violence, and orphanhood.
Poetry on Demand with The Walking Mall Poet
Saturday, Apr. 20, Noon | Southwest Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month with a free personalized poem written on a typewriter by The Walking Mall Poet and try your own hand at typewriter poetry. You don't have to visit the tortured poets department to get some custom verse. Stop by the Southwest Neighborhood Library between Noon and 3 p.m. for a personalized typewritten poem written while you wait by The Walking Mall Poet.
La Comunidad Reads Celebrates National Poetry Month
Thursday, Apr. 24, 7 p.m. | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
For National Poetry Month, join us for a panel conversation celebrating Latinx poets and poetry. In conversation with Lupita Aquino, poets Rigoberto González, Sami Miranda, José Olivarez will discuss their work.
Youth Poet Laureate Workshop
Multiple Dates | Multiple Locations
The 2024 Youth Poet Laureate Tour at DC Public Library will feature several youth poet laureates from across the DMV who will read their work, then lead a workshop for other young people on how to write poetry from their own perspective. This Know Your Power program is sponsored by the DC Public Library Foundation and Pepco.
Submit to the 2024 Haiku Contest!
Contest Dates: April 1 - 30
For the past few years, D.C. residents have enjoyed crafting haikus in celebration of National Poetry Month for our annual Haiku Contest. Back for another year, Residents ages 6 and up are invited to submit a haiku to their neighborhood library for the 2024 Haiku Contest from Apr. 1 - 30.
What is a Haiku?
A haiku is a traditional Japanese poem made up of three lines, with 17 syllables total.
Line 1 is made up of 5 syllables.
Line 2 is made up of 7 syllables.
Line 3 is made up of 5 syllables.
Traditionally, haiku don't rhyme and use imagery from the natural world, but you can decide if you want to be creative with rhyme, images, and content.
