Our Love Letter to Poetry (and You!)

Four book recommendations in honor of National Poetry Month

It’s April, which means it’s officially National Poetry Month—and honestly, we couldn’t be more excited. Here at the Coal Valley Public Library, poetry holds a special place in our hearts. There’s just something magical about how a few carefully chosen words can stir something deep inside us. Whether it’s a haiku that makes you smile or a free verse that hits you right in the gut, poetry has a way of showing up exactly when we need it.

We wanted to take this month to celebrate poetry in all its forms—and to invite you to celebrate it with us.

Our Shelves Are Blooming With Poems

Come explore our poetry collection! We’ve got something for everyone—quiet reflections, passionate prose, playful rhymes, and everything in between. If you’re not sure where to start, our staff has picked some favorites (check the end of this post!). Or, let us know what you’re in the mood for and we’ll help you find your next favorite poem.

We Want to Read Your Words

Have you ever written a poem? Maybe just a few lines scribbled in a notebook or typed out in your phone’s notes app? We’d love to read it. This month, we’re inviting patrons of all ages to share their poems with us. You can drop them off at the front desk, email them to us, or even share them on social media and tag us. We’ll feature a few on our bulletin board and maybe even online (with your permission, of course).

Join Us for Poetry Open Mic Night

We’re hosting a cozy, low-key Verses and Vibes Open Mic Night on Tuesday, April 29th at 6:00 pm. Bring a favorite poem—or something you wrote—and share it in a welcoming, judgment-free space. Not ready to read out loud? Come and listen. We’d just love to see you there.

Staff Picks: A Few of Our Go-To Poetry Books

Here are a few poetry collections our team keeps coming back to:

• How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope by James Crews (we’ve all needed this one)

• The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur (raw, beautiful, and powerful)

• Poetry Speaks by Elise Paschen (includes audio—hearing the poets read their own work is a whole experience)

• A Nature Poem for Every Day of the Year  by Jane McMorland Hunter (perfect for spring walks and quiet mornings)

  
  

Connect With Us Online

All month long, we’ll be sharing poems, prompts, and poetry tidbits on Facebook and Instagram. If you write or discover something you love, tag us—we want to see it! Let’s fill our little corner of the internet with poems.

We know life can get busy, but we hope you’ll make a little room for poetry this month. Whether it’s five minutes with a verse before bed, a poem shared with a friend, or just noticing the poetic in your everyday life, it all counts.

Thanks for being part of our library family, and happy National Poetry Month, Coal Valley. 💛