What's black and white and read all over?

Why it's a poem in your pocket.  Ever hear of a poem in your pocket?  Started by www.poets.org in 2008 in New York City, National Poem in Your Pocket day which is Thursday, April 14th this year, celebrates the literary form of poetry.  Events can be organized at libraries, in schools, at book clubs or whatever.  It costs nothing!  Just write a poem or select a poem...a short one...put it in your pocket...and, when you meet someone at work, on the subway or at the store, just pull out the poem and read it to them!  That's it.  Other ideas to celebrate poetry is to text someone your favorite poem, email everyone you know with your favorite piece, or include a short poem at the closing of your signature on emails...it's all good.  And, what better time to celebrate poetry this week because it's also National Library Week.  It's also National Poetry Month as well!!  What fun!  So start looking through your chapbooks for some great little works and start writing them and putting them in your pocket.  Want to give someone a gift of poetry?  For under $15. including shipping and handling, check out my artistic chapbook done with friend and poet, Nancy Scott...under "NEW Release" and available on Amazon.com.  Sponsor a poetry day at your local library this week and read some poetry!  It's fun...and, best of all, poems make us think!  So, here is my poem from my pocket via my blog:                                                                                              
                                                              Hold fast to dreams,
                                                              For if dreams die,
                                                              Life is a broken-winged bird
                                                              that cannot fly.
                                                                           -Langston Hughes

One of my favorite works by Langston Hughes, this work is emblazoned in my memory for it's hopefulness, it's simplicity and it's life-affirming sense.  So, enjoy the week and celebrate!  Hug a librarian, hug a poet and hug a book artist!  And, just think a pocket is a container...a book is a pocket for words, a sock is a pocket for toes, a bowl is a pocket for soup...well, you get the idea...