The Portrait Indicator

Geoffrey Chaucer begins his 14th-century poem, The Canterbury Tales, with three simple words: “Whan that Aprill.” This Middle English masterpiece is immediately and deliberately rooted in a particular season: spring. The first 18 lines depict familiar scenes of the season, life-giving rains, the growth of flowers, the return of birds, and the appearance of vernal constellations. In these lines, Chaucer suggests the resurgence of spring inherently instills a desire to live, to learn, and to heal.

It is no wonder that National Poetry Month coincides with April. The magic of spring is synonymous with poetry itself, offering readers perspective, connection, inspiration, and meaning. Like spring, poetry contains a seemingly magical quality to heal and restore; however, it can be easily missed if one is not paying close attention. Poetry casts an invisible charm, like the song you hum in your head or the feeling you can’t quite explain as lines resonate with personal meaning.

But for many, poetry can be frustrating. To appreciate poetry is to stop and notice poetry; it requires time and attention; it demands the present, pulling us out of the current of time. This is further complicated by, and leads many to be frustrated with, the ambiguity of the meaning. In her recent article, “The shape of the void: toward a definition of poetry,” Elisa Gabbert states, “I believe poetry leaves something out… the missingness of poetry slows readers down, making them search for what can’t be found.” Poems may not provide answers, but they can provide the space to find your own.

700 years later, much of Chaucer’s poem applies to our time. His characters survived a devastating plague, political turmoil, and The Hundred Year’s War. Amid profound loss, divide, and war, his characters found tonic in the restoration of spring, the company of one another, and the telling of stories. The idea that poetry can serve as a similar antidote to life’s perils, a forum to find meaning, and give shape to life’s joys, is as true then as it is now. I hope you find some time this spring to idle with a good poem.

Here are some ways you may celebrate National Poetry Month:

• Carry a poem in your pocket. April 29th is National Carry a Poem in Your Pocket Day. Poets.org suggests ways you can honor the day and build a love of poetry.

• Explore some resources. Whether speaking at a birthday, wedding, or funeral, we often turn to poetry to articulate our joy and pain during life’s most moving moments. Poetryfoundation.org and Poets.org allow you to find poems appropriate for all life’s occasions.

• Find the poem in the song. Tomas Q. Morin’s free-verse poem “Miles Davis Stole My Soul” coveys the improvisational cadence of jazz. It is a reminder of the link between music and verse. There may be no greater suggestion of this than Bob Dylan’s winning the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature. For those resistant to poetry, I challenge you to find the poetry in the music we listen to daily.

• There is no better way to enjoy poetry than to attend poetry readings and dialogues. The Academy of Poets will host their free 19th annual Poetry & the Creative Mind on April 28th, at 7:30 PM. The event is billed as “an evening of favorite poems shared by luminaries from across the arts and culture.” The evening will feature celebrated poets Richard Blanco, Terrance Hayes, and Joy Harjo. RSVP here. Also, be sure to mark your calendars this October for the nation’s largest poetry event hosted every two years in Newark, NJ: The Dodge Poetry Festival. Sometimes referred to as “Wordstock,” this event is not to be missed!

• For those who already love verse and want to take their love to the next level, consider Mary Oliver’s A Poetry Handbook, Edward Hirsch’s How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry, or Thomas Foster’s How to Read Poetry Like a Professor.

• Lastly, I highly recommend attending our very own Writers Night, on June 2nd, at 4:30 at RHS. The evening will feature Roxbury High School students reading their poetry as we celebrate their craft and the publication of their latest Literary Magazine.