Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? Inaugurated in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month is touted as “the largest literary celebration in the world.”
Writers, teachers and librarians throughout the United States band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. For the organization’s annual event this month, luminaries in the creative arts (the 2015 list includes choreographer Judith Jamison, songwriter Sam Beam, actor Holly Hunter and chef Anita Lo) will gather in New York City to share their favorite poems at a gala reading called Poetry & the Creative Mind.
A new generation of poets is emerging with passion, intelligence, honesty, creativity and power.
When it comes to empowering unheard voices, a new generation of poets is emerging with passion, intelligence, honesty, creativity and power. Here’s an original piece that will blow you away, written by two young poets who were raised to see each other with hate and disdain. (The pair performed it at the Brave New Voices finals for the International Poetry Slam Festival.) No censoring or holding back here. Watch the video, and let me know how this makes you feel – uncomfortable, anxious, angry, optimistic, hopeful?
Irwin Kula is the co-founder and co-executive editor of The Wisdom Daily. A rabbi, Irwin’s writing has been featured in The Huffington Post and the Washington Post. He is the author of Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life and a co-editor of The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices. Irwin has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The O’Reilly Factor and PBS Frontline. Irwin also serves as President Emeritus of Clal, The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a leadership training institute, think tank and resource center in New York City.