In the spring a young lady's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of poetry

The child alone a poet is:
Spring and Fairyland are his.
Truth and Reason show but dim,
And all's poetry with him.

I love April, and not simply because of the promise of spring. April celebrates something which lingers even longer than the fragrance of lilacs. It is National Poetry Month for those of us in the United States.

The Academy of American Poets declared April "National Poetry Month" in 1996, and each year the opportunities to join in the celebration grow. My favorite treat is the daily delivery of poetry. Poets.org and Knopf e-mail new poems each day, and I'm hopeful that The Best Words in their Best Order will again have audio recordings each day.

Second Life is also celebrating National Poetry Month. The Caledon Library is hosting a Spring Poetry Discussion at the Reading Garden on Friday, April 11. Mr Skein, the host, asks that you bring one or two of your favorite poems to share.

The Caledon Library Benefactors event for April is a Jellicle Ball. If you happen to be unfamiliar with Jellicle cats, you may read about them in this month's Book of the Month select, T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," scheduled for Sunday, April 27 at the Whitehorn Library.  The Ball will be held on April 26, so there is time to find a top hat to fit your ears and a gown that will allow your tail to twitch freely.

If you haven't made it to the current exhibit at the Whitehorn Library, please visit the second floor. The poetry in Apollinaire's Bestiary is witty fun. My favorite selection is "The Cat." Hmm, I'm sensing a theme.

Elsewhere in Second Life, poetry abounds. Fiction & Latte is hosting a "Depictions of Spring" literary discussion on Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m. -- again bring your favorite pieces to share. Readings at F&L are done in voice, so even if you don't read, you will want to turn on Voice so you can hear the works.  Bookstacks is hosting a poetry-themed trivia game at noon on Saturday, April 5, and there is a poetry discussion scheduled for Sunday, April 20.

I hope to see you all at these wonderful poetry events. Please check the full calendar of events on homepage of The Library Militant.