Did You Know? Interesting and Fun Facts about Poetry

What is poetry? Poetry is a form of writing that uses sounds and images to express ideas and feelings. Originally spoken aloud to an audience, its rhythms and sounds affect the meaning of the words.

• Poetry is a great way to vent your emotions. Expressing yourself on a piece of paper can make you feel better about yourself, confident, and calmer.
• Among the earliest types of poetry is the epic, a long story that narrates heroic adventures.
• One of the oldest written poems (around 4000 years old, originating from Babylon) is the Epic of Gilgamesh, a story told about King Gilgamesh who was described as half-god, half-man.
• “Mahabharata” is the longest poem ever written. It’s an ancient Indian epic poem, which contains 1.8 million words. 
• Haiku is one of the most popular forms of writing short poems. Originating from Japan, this form of writing has only seventeen syllables and three lines, containing 5, 7 and 5 syllables respectively.
• Poems don’t have to rhyme. Sometimes rhyme doesn’t suit the theme or the feeling of the poem, so many poets write in blank verse , poetry that doesn’t rhyme, but has a particular meter (rhythm).
• George MacDonald (1824-1905) wrote a two-word poem called ‘The Shortest and Sweetest of Songs’. It simply reads: ‘Come Home.’
• ‘Metrophobia’ is the fear of poetry.
• E. E. Cummings dedicated his self-published volume of poetry, entitled 'No Thanks' to the fourteen publishers who had turned it down.

Fun Stuff to Do: Make Your Own Book!

The materials that you’ll need for this project:

• blank paper (30-100 sheets, depending how thick you want your book) 
• card-board - 2 sheets, for front and back covers 
• pretty paper - 2 patterns, for inside and outside of covers. Scrapbooking paper works best but a pretty wrapping paper works well too. 
• ribbon - a few feet long, 6 mm (¼“) wide 
• hole-punch (or power drill: optional and with parental assistance, of course!) 
• glue stick 
• scissors 
• ruler 
• bull clips 

Get detailed instructions here including photos to guide you along on your project. Once your book is completed, fill it with your own illustrated poetry! This is a great summer project for parents and their children and will be a family keepsake that you’ll treasure.