Today is National Poetry Day,
all across the UK poets
will be pouring their hearts
and souls on to the page,
today is National Poetry day,
today people are listening
today people will hear our words
and take them to heart
and heed our craft or art.
Today poetry is headline news,
like that 90s band getting back together.
Poetry is the hottest ticket in town,
but poetry doesn’t come
with a hefty price tag,
or dynamic ticketing.
Poetry does not sell-out in minutes.
Poetry will never forget her roots,
Poetry has a kind word and a massive hug.
Poetry has the kettle on
when you’ve had such a bad day.
Poetry knows how you feel.
Tomorrow, the day after
National Poetry Day,
when everyone has moved on,
to the latest five-minute fad,
we’ll still be scribbling away
on these spindrift pages,
hitting the typewriter keys
until our fingers bleed.
Tomorrow, the day after
National Poetry Day,
when the world has a brand new obsession,
poetry is going back underground,
and will be our little secret
once again.