It is National Poetry Month all over San Mateo County! The County of San Mateo and cities in the county are proclaiming April as National Poetry Month, along with a month-long celebration of poetry and the work of poets in the county.
On April 1st, the “Speak Poetry in San Mateo County” banner was raised at the County Center in Redwood City, with support from the Offices of Supervisor Warren Slocum and Supervisor Carole Groom, the Office of Arts and Culture, and the county’s Public Works team. The Speak Poetry web archive was launched the same day featuring the profiles of San Mateo County poets, as well as poets from the greater Bay Area with ties to the county.
Following National Poetry Month proclamations by the County Supervisors and the mayors of the cities of Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Mateo, the Midcoast Community Council, and the San Mateo County Harbor Commission, activities, readings and programs have been launched around the county celebrating local poets and the role of poetry in our communities, including a Makerspace Poetry Lab pilot project for all ages to promote STEAM. Additionally, nearly 200 trees have been planted in honor of San Mateo County’s poets and poetry advocates for their many ways of making and giving and paying it forward, with individual and group certificates presented through One Tree Planted.
Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K–12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and, of course, poets, marking poetry’s important place in our lives.
Check out poetry events near you. Happy National Poetry Month!
Aileen Cassinetto 