National Poetry Month may be winding down but that doesn’t mean that the celebration is over! In case you missed it, on Friday, April 17, 18-year-old National Student Poet Madeleine LeCesne experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—introducing “former teen poet” President Barack Obama.
During the White House Poetry Workshop hosted by the President and First Lady in the State Dining Room at the White House, literary ambassador Madeleine LeCesne took to the podium to explain the important role that poetry has played in her life and introduce the President of the United States.
“Poetry has taught me that wonder is the inevitable conclusion to fear. That every panic will metamorphose into something exhilarating because someone, somewhere has already felt it and cracked open its beauty,” explained Madeleine.
“I didn’t enter this year believing I was a poet, but the National Student Poets Program proved me wrong. It has taught me that a poet can be defined as any person who has ever wanted to connect. Poetry only asks one thing of us: to be here. So, here I am. So, here we are.”
You can view the full video below, including President Obama’s remarks on the vital art of poetry and a reading by poet Elizabeth Alexander.
“The greatness of a country is not just the size of its military, or the size of its economy, or how much territory it controls. It’s also measured by the richness of its culture. America is America in part because of our poets, and our artists, and our musicians—all those who have shared their ideas and their stories and helped make us the vibrant and passionate country we are today,” said President Obama at the workshop.
Lastly, make sure to make your calendars… Poem in Your Pocket Day is around the corner on April 30! You can share your poem selection on Twitter by using the hashtag #pocketpoem and visit Poets.org for classroom and community ideas.
via the National Student Poets Program
