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For the past few months, I’ve started my day reading poetry. Each morning I awake to find a “Poem of the Day” in my inbox, sent from the Academy of American Poets or Rattle. It’s become my own form of morning meditation. Words in, breathe out. Words in, breathe out.
As I move throughout my day, I catch myself thinking about the poem. Admiring a word juxtaposition. Reflecting on a phrase. Or trying to figure out a deeper meaning, my curiosity ignited.
Reading poetry daily reminds me why I fell in love with words and writing in the first place. The excitement of playing with language and the thoughts and feelings that words, placed just right, can liberate from the writer and evoke in the reader. The moments of surprise, of unexpected discovery, of newfound understanding.
It’s inspired me to incorporate more poetry—both reading and writing—into my teaching, to see if that practice could have a similar effect on my students. I remember having read that when it comes to teaching poetry, what’s important is setting up moments where poetry can happen, where it can arrive at you.
So that’s what I’ve been doing. To start, I begin each of my classes reading a poem. I tell my students to just listen to the words and to pay attention to their own thoughts and feelings that arise. It’s been an excuse to expose them to a variety of writers in bite-size chunks—from Nikki Giovanni to Mary Oliver to U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera.
In the after-school program, we’ve been writing more poetry. We are honored to have Eileen Huang, a National Teen Poet and sophomore at High Tech High, and Vivian Parkin DeRosa, a spoken word poet and freshman at Communications High School, visiting weekly and leading workshops. Poetry, we’ve discovered, is perfect for middle school students because it allows them to give voice to their feelings in accessible, unrestricted ways. To our surprise, many of our students are writing about their experiences (and hardships) with love. Even more, they are sharing and listening to each other.
Others are playing with language, form, imagery and creating thought-provoking pieces. From one of our 7th-grade boys, after reading a poem on grief that Eileen shared:
Rivers of rage, metals of sadness.
I lost too many people here.
They drifted into my life on a piece of paper,
making me read their stories and experiences.
Another student has written dozens of poems, exploring such themes as an absent father and the pain of growing up. She told me she only started writing poetry when we gave her permission to. That in addition to having a business career, she now wants to be a poet.
And it’s not just our younger students who have been affected. One of my adult students, a financial planner who is working on a book to help women manage their finances, just emailed me a poem she wrote inspired by a line from the Octavio Paz poem “Between Going and Coming” that I had read in our memoir class. Here are a few of her lines:
I see the sunset like every day before
But totally different from anymore to come
Beautifully cloaked in a veil of orange and pink
Emerging as if to tease the moon and stars…
What I’ve realized: poetry is a practice all of us could benefit from. Poetry inspires emotion, thought, self-reflection, curiosity, discovery, understanding, and empathy in surprising and powerful ways. It’s both an outlet and a connector. And it forces us to consider and reflect upon our words more than any other form of writing.
April marks the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month, celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture. In its honor, we invite you to practice poetry, to set up the moments where it can arrive. There are so many ways you can do this—by signing up to receive a poem a day, to share a favorite poem with a loved one, to writing your own. Try it for 30 days. And watch what happens.
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Poetry has the incredible ability to evoke emotions and inspire change. Much like the justin bieber white and purple outfit which combines vibrancy and flair, poetry blends creativity and expression. It captures the essence of our experiences, offering a unique lens through which we can understand and connect with the world around us.
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I read many blogs, but this post truly highlights the beauty and impact of poetry. The connection between words, emotions, and creativity is beautifully explained. It inspires readers to explore poetry as a meaningful practice for reflection and personal growth
I specially liked the idea of introducing students to poetry without immediately asking them to analyze it, but instead letting them notice their own thoughts and feelings,sometimes the words we need most are the ones that stay with us throughout the day!
Beautiful reflection on how poetry can inspire creativity, empathy, and self-discovery. The examples of students finding their voices through writing show the powerful impact of encouraging artistic expression and meaningful connections through words.
What stood out to me is the idea of simply giving students “permission” to write poetry. That seems small, but for a young person who feels their thoughts are too personal or maybe not good enough, it can make a huge difference. I also like that the approach isnt focused on analyzing every line or finding the “correct” meaning. Sometimes just hearing a poem and noticing what it brings up is enough. The examples from the students make the whole idea feel much more real, not just theoretical.
It’s interesting how a few simple lines can express feelings and ideas that are sometimes hard to put into everyday words, i also liked the reminder that poetry can be personal and meaningful in different ways for different readers!
I really love the idea of starting the day with a poem and letting its words dwell in my thoughts throughout the day. Here, the connection between poetry, self-reflection, creativity, and empathy is beautifully explained.
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The part I found most interesting is how poetry is being used as a starting point for conversation, not just as something students have to analyse for a class. Giving them permission to write seems like a small change, but it can open up subjects they might normally keep to themselves. I also like the idea of reading one poem at the beginning of class without immediately asking for an explanation. Sometimes trying to find the “correct” meaning too quickly takes away what made the poem interesting in the first place.
Starting each morning with poetry turns reading into mindful meditation. I love how a single phrase can linger throughout the day, sparking curiosity, reflection, and deeper meaning.
Thank you for this powerful reminder of what words can do. Giving students the chance to simply listen and feel—before diving into analysis—makes understanding poetry and allowing it to bring about change far easier and more impactful.
I like the idea of using poetry as a daily pause, but I think the biggest benefit is how it makes people notice language differently. Reading a poem before class could also help students slow down before jumping into the usual school routine. Sometimes a short poem can start a discussion that a long lesson cant. I wonder if students who dislike writing at first might respond better when there is no pressure to make it perfect. The freedom seems important here.
Starting the day with poetry sounds like such a refreshing practice. I especially liked how the experience extends into teaching, giving students space to explore emotions, language, and personal experiences. Poetry can be a powerful way to encourage reflection while helping people connect through shared words and feelings.
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I love the idea of beginning each day with poetry and carrying those words with you throughout the day. It’s especially inspiring to see how this simple practice encourages students to explore emotions, creativity, language, and their own personal experiences through writing