The question displayed on the poster created by Paul Sahre for National Poetry Month appears in T. S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” but in the poem, that question is presented over two lines: “Do I dare / Disturb the universe?” Sahre’s rendition of the quotation places those lines on an ominous, water-fogged windowpane on which the letters have been scrawled.
This poster’s out-of-contextually jarring portrayal of the lines reveals the usual misinterpretation of Eliot’s widely anthologized poem. (Please see “Prufrock’s Love Song: A Funny Poem” for explanation.)
Every year beginning with 1996, the Academy of American Poetry promotes poetry during the month of April through numerous events, including those that feature movie stars, news anchors, musicians, and other well-known celebrities.
Poetry and the Creative Mind
On April 1 at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, the Academy will hold its annual opening event: From the publicity Web site, “Some of America’s leading artists, scholars, and public figures will participate in this extraordinary evening celebrating the role of contemporary poetry in American culture. Each year, Poetry & The Creative Mind kicks off National Poetry Month.”
Tickets for the event start at $40.00, with VIP tickets going for $450.00. The event is called a “benefit,” but it is also referred to as a “gala.” It is unclear whom the gala benefits, other than the Academy. The “benefit” is sponsored by the New York Times.
Poem in Your Pocket
The “Poem in Your Pocket” project was initiated last year. Poetry lovers are encouraged to select a poem they especially admire and carry it with them in a pocket and then take it out at opportune times during the day to share with family, friends, or work associates.
The project can also include putting poems in the pockets of others. Just carry around a bunch of the poems you find irresistible and slip them into the pockets of your friends, family, and fellow student or workers. The project further encourages readers to create their own ways to employ the poem-in-your-pocket project, and they ask that readers share their innovations with the Academy.
Poem-a-Day
Beginning April 1, readers who subscribe to the service can receive a poem each day of April by email. The disadvantage to this project is that it ends unnecessarily. The other projects because of their nature must be limited to April, but this useful service could be extended to year round. The Academy could then promote poetry every day of the year by sending out a poem each day to email subscribers.
National Poetry Map
By clicking on the U. S. map offered in this section of the Web site, the reader can locate his own state to find out about events close to home. In addition to National Poetry Month activities, however, the state site includes information about the state’s poet laureate, if it has one, and a list of other poets who hail from the state.
Of all of the projects and activities, the “Poetry Map” feature is probably the most useful one offered for the dissemination and promotion of poetry information.
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