BPL Celebrating National Poetry Month with Bards & Brews, Poetry Bookmarks

April is National Poetry Month, and the Birmingham Public Library is celebrating those with the gift of spoken word. Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month highlights the important role that poets play in society and to spread the word that poetry matters. 

Besides hosting the nationally recognized Bards & Brews spoken word poetry/craft beer event with an Open Mic at 6:30 p.m. this Friday, April 14, at the Central Library downtown, BPL is celebrating all month long by offering National Poetry Month Bookmarks through the end of April at West End Branch Library.

Today, April 12, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., Southside Branch Library hosts Blackout Poetry Slam, featuring teens  releasing their poetic gifts to create blackout poetry and share amongst others in the form of a Poetry Slam.

 Here is a listing of National Poetry Month events taking place at BPL:

Blackout Poetry Slam, Today, Wednesday, April 12, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Southside Branch Library, 1814 11th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35203 

Teens will release their poetic gifts to create blackout poetry and share amongst others in the form of a Poetry Slam. Family and friends are welcome to participate, as well as be supportive. 

"Blackout poetry" is a type of "found poetry," which means authors do not write their words, but find meaning in works that already exist, according to Gelenda Norman of Southside Library. With blackout poetry, someone will take an existing text such as a page from a book or newspaper. 

They then scan for words that generate inspiration and then  decide which words to use to construct a poem.  The writer will then use a marker to blackout (hence the name) all other words, leaving behind only the words that give meaning to the new poem. For more information, contact Gelenda Norman at (205) 933-7776 or email gelenda.norman@cobpl.org.

Always Write, Never Wrong, Friday, April 14, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., North Birmingham Regional Library, 2501 31st Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35207 

Come join us in the Adult Department and express yourself through creative writing, ranging from poetry, to short stories to paragraphs. For more information, call (205) 226-4027 or email Julie.higginbotham@cobpl.org.

Timbuktu will be the featured poet at the Friday, April 14 Bards & Brews Open Mic.

Bards & Brews Open Mic, Friday, April 14, 6:30 p.m., Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203 

 Join BPL for a night of spoken word poetry celebrating National Poetry Month Our featured poet is Timbuktu & Birmingham District Brewing Company is pouring beers that evening. Bards & Brews is free & open to the public. Guests must be 18+ to enter & 21+ to drink with proof of I.D. Bards & Brews is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

National Poetry Month Bookmarks, All Month Long, West End Branch Library, 1348 Tuscaloosa Avenue SW, Birmingham, AL 35211 

Stop by West End Library throughout April and pick up a bookmark to color. Each bookmark features a different poem. For more information, call (205) 226-4089 or email lynn.hutchins@cobpl.org. 

For a look at all programs and activities taking place at BPL, click on our calendar.