Dear Poet 2023 submissions are now open!

January 2023

Your students could be published on Poets.org!

Every National Poetry Month, we present Dear Poet, a multimedia project that invites young people in grades five through twelve to write letters in response to poems written and read by award-winning poets.

Invite your students to choose from six videos and submit their letters by March 3. Teachers may also submit their students’ letters, use this free lesson plan, and find an FAQ page. Select letters will receive a reply from the poet and be published in a booklet on Poets.org during National Poetry Month in April.

Monday, December 5

Monday, December 12

Monday, December 19

“Root Systems” by Kay Ulanday Barrett

“Winter Solstice” by Ray McNiece

“The New Year” by Carrie Williams Clifford

Prepare to celebrate Black History Month in February by reading and sharing kid-friendly poems by classic and contemporary poets such as Elizabeth Alexander, Jericho Brown, Claudia Rankine, and others.

As a new year begins and winter takes hold, bring poems by Emily Dickinson, Claude McKay, Pablo Neruda, and others into your classroom with this roundup of l esson plans for winter.

Sponsored Content
Walt Whitman Birthplace Association (WWBA) invites poets between the ages of 25 and 35 to apply for the Gwenn A. Nusbaum/WWBA “Poets to Come” Scholarship Award. The $1,500 scholarship aims to encourage and assist an emerging poet in their writing endeavors and is offered in the spirit of Walt Whitman’s poem, “Poets to Come.” The panelists include notable judges Victoria Chang and Juan Felipe Herrera. Open January 1, 2023—April 3, 2023. There is no entry fee. For guidelines and to apply, visit: waltwhitman.org/poetstocome

Lesson Plans o n Classic Poetry

Winter: Poems for Kids

The Education Ambassador for the Academy of American Poets and fifth presidential inaugural poet, Richard Blanco, wrote an occasion poem for the inauguration of Governor Janet Mills of Maine. Watch Blanco read his poem, and read more about the inauguration.

In addition, Blanco co-wrote an upcoming play at Portland Stage, Sweet Goats and Blueberry Señoritas. Available in-person or on-demand, find more information about the play.

Sponsored Content
Announcing the Inaugural New York State Youth Poet Laureate Contest! The New York State (NYS) Youth Poet Laureate Program aims to identify young writers and leaders committed to creating change through civic engagement and poetic excellence. Along with the official title and a cash prize of $500, the NYS Youth Poet Laureate gets both high-level performance and learning opportunities and the chance to compete to be the National Youth Poet Laureate. Apply between February 1-28: https://twc.org/ny-youthlaureate

Teachers, thank you for your work bringing poetry into the classroom year-round. We’re happy to be able to offer hundreds of free lesson plans, essays, and other resources, and we wish you and your students health and safety.

The Academy of American Poets

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Dear Poet 2023 submissions are now open!

Older messages

"Whipping" by K. D. Harryman

"Who Can Govern Themselves Out of Governance?" by A. H. Jerriod Avant

"The Forest Road" by Charlotte Mew

"Confession" by Countee Cullen

"Ars Poetica" by Nabila Lovelace

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