IN THE RHYTHM Of April

As poetry and spoken word become commonplace, 'pop' even, we look at the role #NaPoWriMo has played in mobilising a whole world of people behind the writing form

- Joshua Muyiwa

The American poet TS Eliot might have declared April as "the cruellest month" but the avalanche of thoughtful, occasionally, technically executed responses to prompts brings the rain and the relief of poetry to us all, this month. Started exactly two decades ago, in April 2003, Washington-based poet, Maureen Thorson, began writing a poem a day, for the month, and posting them on her blog. Over a couple of years, a global community has joined her in this daily poetry-writing practice. Since 1996, the Academy of American Poets have instituted April as the month to draw attention and awareness to poetry. And NaPoWriMo is one the most popular 'unofficial programmes' of this initiative that has seen poets, publishers, booksellers and teachers from across the world find wonderful ways to celebrate poetry in all its glory.

Lately, the notion that poetry is 'too highbrow' for everyone has been completely rubbished. It isn't something to love secretly. Instead, people are loudly declaring their love for the written word on their feeds and among their friends. The auditoriums at poetry festivals are packed; it is being programmed into the monthly cultural calendar of venues; and writing workshops are eagerly attended. People aren't just writing and reading about their lost loves, but are stepping up in open mics to talk about public politics and private pleasures. And a whole lot of them are wrestling with different forms, from the sonnet to the ghazal to freeverse, and everything in between. Many Indian poets across the country have played their part, too, in popularising this coming together of and writing poetry. NaPoWriMo, in that regard, has played a significant role.