National Poetry Day 2012

Today is National Poetry Day 2012, and while we think every day is the perfect opportunity to share some verse, we're especially happy to celebrate a whole day dedicated to poems of all shapes and sizes.

This year's National Poetry Day is particularly special as The Reader Organisation staff are taking part in an evening of poetry out of doors in the grounds of Abney Park Chapel in London. The setting for the Poems By Heart event happening tonight isn't the only unique feature about this particular celebration of poetry, however - all of those reading are reciting poems they have learnt by heart, without any paper copies to aid them. It's quite a feat, and even more impressive when you know that this troupe of poetry lovers are doing it all to show their support for our Apprenticeship for Life Campaign.

Two of our London Project Workers, Megg Hewlett and Paul Higgins, will be reading from the heart and by heart at the event, and both gave wonderful performances of their prepared poems - all from memory with not a printed copy in sight - at our staff Think Day last Friday. Everyone was in awe of their efforts, and we know they'll similarly stun under the stars in London tonight. The very best of luck!

Poems By Heart has sold out - though you can add your name to the waiting list, if you hurry. You can still participate by sponsoring the brave By-Hearters - they're halfway towards their goal of raising £500 to help secure the opportunity to give a care-leaver the chance of a lifetime.

And to get you fully in the National Poetry Day spirit - and perhaps to encourage you to do some learning by heart yourself - here's a couple of poems from our Featured Poem archive which fit nicely in with this year's National Poetry Day theme of 'stars':

Stars by Katherine Mansfield

My Star by Robert Browning