Poems for Black History Month and Valentine's Day

February 2022

February is Black History Month. To celebrate the rich tradition of Black poetry this month and year-round, browse lesson plans and the following classic and contemporary poems:

“won’t you celebrate with me” by Lucille Clifton
“Advice to Youth” by Countee Cullen
“A Small Needful Fact” by Ross Gay
“Barberism” by Terrance Hayes
“4.” by bell hooks
“Moonlily” by Marilyn Nelson
“Imagine” by Kamilah Aisha Moon
“little prayer” by Danez Smith
“For My People” by Margaret Walker

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.

Poems for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is around the corner—what better way to celebrate than with poetry?
Browse our selections of Valentine’s Day poems for kids, poems about friendship, and lesson plans for the occasion.

In partnership with Scholastic, we’re thrilled to reveal the design of the official 2023 National Poetry Month poster featuring artwork by Marc Brown, creator of the popular Arthur books and PBS television series, and an excerpted line from the poem “Carrying” by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón.

We’ll be distributing the poster free-of-charge to 85,000+ classrooms, libraries, bookstores, and individuals nationwide in time for the April 2023 celebration. Request your free copy here!

Monday, January 8

Monday, January 15

Monday, January 22

Monday, January 29

“Ghazal of Oranges” by Jan-Henry Gray

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

“Miss Mary Mack Introduces Her Wings” by Tyree Daye

“Good Grief” by KB Brookins

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Prepare to celebrate Women’s History Month in March and year-round with lesson plans and poems featuring poets such as Lucille Clifton, Adrienne Rich, and Joy Harjo, among others.

Twelve contemporary poets write about Black History Month

Lesson Plans on Poems Written by Black Poets

Apply to be the Inaugural New York State Youth Poet Laureate

The New York State 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 apply to be the National Youth Poet Laureate. Apply by February 28.

In celebration of the new federal Juneteenth holiday, the 2023 What Juneteenth Means (To Me) poetry contest for grades 8-12 encourages young writers of Texas to explore the events that make this day in Texas and American history such a stirring and significant one. Submit from February 1 to March 15.

Congratulations to Georgia Heard, winner of the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. NCTE established the Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 1977 to honor a living American poet for their aggregate work for children ages three to thirteen. NCTE also recognizes and fosters excellence in children’s poetry by encouraging its publication and by exploring ways to acquaint teachers and children with poetry through such means as publications, programs, and displays. Learn more.

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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Poems for Black History Month and Valentine's Day

Older messages

"Brown Estate, 2018 Tempranillo" by Cortney Lamar Charleston

"black love" by Evie Shockley

"The world we want is on the way"

"This Beautiful Planet" by Dorothea Lasky

"an armistice between my dead folks and my delusions" by Ra Malika Imhotep

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