April is National Poetry Month! 

Have you had your poetry fix for the day?  Well look no further because each day during April we will be posting a poem to celebrate.

For more poetry resources check out the poetry section of our collection or go to the American Academy of Poets website. 

Today is Put a Poem in your Pocket Day!  Visit this website for poems you can print off and carry with you to share with co-workers, family, friends, and anyone else you encounter today.  Watch this funny video for inspiration and think of a creative way to share poetry—like posting a poem to your facebook, myspace, or blog page.

Also today KU libraries are hosting a couple of events to celebrate poetry month—a poetry open mic and a lecture on poet Wallace Stevens by Julie Buchsbaum.

Today’s poem is
The Emperor of Ice-Cream by Wallace Stevens

Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month’s newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

Take from the dresser of deal.
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.

Today’s poem is courtesy of poets.org, and falls within the public domain since it was published before 1923 and the author died more than 100 years ago.