Today is Poem in Your Pocket day. A day to keep a poem close to you and celebrate this art form with family, friends or classmates. “What makes something a poem?” you may ask. Poetry is about any topic, takes any shape, and can be of any length. There is classic form, like iambic pentameter so famously used by William Shakespeare. Or simple rhyme, like the all time classic “Roses are red, Violets are blue…”

They can be humorous and witty, like Billy Collins’ Litney (poem begins at 1:55).

Or full of sadness, like Gottfried Benn’s Fragments 1953.

They can be artistic in form and structure, like Dylan Thomas’ work Vision and Prayer.

They can be under 140 characters, like those contributing to #micropoetry or #poetweet.

Or they can be epic works, like The Iliad & The Odyssey by Homer.

What kind of poem is in your pocket?