It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years. 10 years of highlighting poets from around the world each April for National Poetry Month (or should we call it International Poetry Month?). That amounts to 300 poems. Or will by the end of April.
A veritable anthology, all archived right here on this site.
When I first started this project, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to attract anyone who would be interested in participating, let alone a full roster of 3o. Apprehensive, I sent out a call, mainly to poets in the Washington DC area, and I waiting anxiously, wondering if I would find 30 willing takers. In fact, at the time, 30 for 30 didn’t even have a name until Sarah Browning later referred to it as such. And the name stuck.
That first year, 30 for 30 gradually took off. Within a few days, to my surprise, I had a complete roster of poets. Now, poets wait for the call, and if it doesn’t come in time, I get emails asking: is there no 30 for 30 this year? And every year, I am even forced, much to my chagrin, to tell some that the roster has been filled. After all: there are only 30 days in April. And yet: I don’t like to say no.
Over the years, 30 for 30 has expanded beyond the Washington DC area to include poets from across the country and, happily, from around the world. We (and this is not the royal we, for you have helped spread the word) have attracted poets from New York to California, from Wisconsin to Oregon, from Maine to Texas. Internationally, we’ve had the privilege of featuring poets from Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Israel and India, to name a few. And this year I am pleased to welcome poets from England and Italy.
Word does get around.
I am fortunate to be able to feature such diverse talent on my web site. I am also fortunate that Potomac Review, a recognized literary journal, has sponsored 30 for 30 for the past number of years and that, through the generosity of donors, I am now able to pay a judge as well as fund other projects. Thank you all for your contributions: for your poetry and your donations. They are all very much appreciated.
As we celebrate this year’s National Poetry Month, remember this: a poem is not just a poem. Each one is an expression of hope, of beauty, and of the human experience. May we all be gifted from our shared humanity.
Mike
30 for 30 is sponsored by Potomac Review
And I am so happy to be part of 30 for 30 year after year. A super poetic treat.
Thanks Joan. So glad to have you.