On Tuesday, Meredith at Dolce Bellezza posted about the pockets that the children in her class are making for Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 18th, sponsored by the Academy of American Poets.

The idea is to select a poem, carry it with you, and share it with others throughout the day. You can also share your poem selection on Twitter by using the hashtag #pocketpoem.

Poems from pockets will be unfolded throughout the day with events in parks, libraries, schools, workplaces, and bookstores.

Poem in your Pocket Day began in 2002 when the Mayor of NYC, in partnership with NYC Departments of Cultural Affairs and Education initiated it as part of the city’s National Poetry Month celebration. In 2008, The Academy of American Poets took the initiative National across the USA.

Although I really know don’t much about poetry, I’d like to make this celebration international by sharing this scrap of verse by American poet Strickland Gillilan that I actually carry around in my pocket every day. This is just the last stanza; you can see the entire poem here.

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be —
I had a Mother who read to me.

I won’t be out and about today, so I’m sharing with you. Will you participate in Poem in Your Pocket Day? What poem will you be sharing?