In the middle of everything—moving, deadlines, projects, moving, teaching, reference, moving, cataloging, acquisitions, moving —there’s always room for a poem!
On April 23, we will celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day as part of National Poetry Month. This nationwide initiative, led by the Academy of American Poets, encourages people to carry a poem with them and share it throughout the day.
Find a poem. Take a poem. Share a poem.
This year feels a little special for us.
We’ll be celebrating in our new home—the Library & Student Resource Center (SRC)—and we’re marking the day in a simple way: by putting poems into circulation.
On April 23, volunteers from the library and other units will be distributing poems around campus, and there will be poems available at the library’s main circulation desk (1st flr, SRC).
Take one. Keep it. Pass it on. No instructions needed.
Ways to participate
- Pick up a poem and carry it with you for the day
- Leave one behind for someone else to discover
- Share a favorite line with a friend or colleague
- Post a poem on social media using #pocketpoem
- Tuck a poem into your notebook, bag, or email—somewhere it might resurface later
Why pocket poetry?
Poetry doesn’t ask for much time. It’s quick, portable, and often lingers longer than expected.
A few lines can interrupt your day in a good way.
Or just sit quietly with you for a while.
We’ll take care of the poems.
You just have to pick one up.