april menu: national poetry month

So many cupcakes, so little time!

Where did March go? Time sure flies when you’re busy licking frosting.

Since I still haven’t found the "perfect chocolate cupcake," I’ll just have to keep looking (twist my arm). Serious bakery research is tough work, but as I said before, I’m willing to make the sacrifice for you, dear readers. So stay tuned for a few more cupcake capers this Spring, as well as more "Cuppie-o-Grams," which will continue to pop up ever-so-randomly here at alphabet soup.

credit: helga_ni.

Meanwhile, the April menu looks even more tantalizing. In honor of National Poetry Month, I’m hosting my first ever POETRY POTLUCK! Each weekday, I will post an exceedingly tasty poem and favorite recipe from one of the many uncommonly good-looking, highly talented poets who regularly participate in Poetry Friday. Just wait till you see what they’ve cooked up! Get your literary bibs on, cause we’ll be serving some seriously amazing food for body, mind and spirit!

Also, check out some of the many other cool National Poetry Month celebrations and events taking place around the blogosphere:

Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect is reprising her brilliant series, "Poetry Makers," featuring an insightful interview with a different poet every single day in April (full list here). She’ll kick things off tomorrow with Children’s Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman.

Gregory K. at Gottabook is again hosting "30 Poets, 30 Days." He’ll post a previously unpublished poem by a children’s poet every day in April (line-up here).

Lee Wind will feature GLBTQ Teen Poetry at I’m Here. I’m Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?

Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading will write and post a poem about teaching and/or learning each day in April.

Irene Latham will be giving away a favorite poetry anthology each Poetry Friday in April.

Sylvia Vardell at Poetry for Children has planned something different this year: Poetry Tag! She’s invited poets to share a poem, then tag a fellow poet, who then has to offer another poem that is in some way related (theme, idea, tone, word, etc.). Should be fun!

Jone MacCulloch is offering "Thirty Days, Thirty Students, Thirty Poems" at Check it Out. She’ll post a different student poem each day, and if you’d like to receive a poem on a decorated postcard, just send your mailing address to macrush53 (at) yahoo (dot) com. I got one last year and it was really sweet!

A number of bloggers are challenging themselves to write a poem a day: Susan Taylor Brown, Andromeda Jazmon, Lee Wind, Jone MacCulloch, Irene Latham, April Halprin Wayland, Jeni Bell, Liz Scanlon, and Elizabeth Moore.

Beginning April 6th, Sherry Early at Semicolon will begin her Top 100 Classic Poems countdown. A new poem will be posted each day into the summer.

Sara Lewis Holmes will share poetry-related quotes all month long at Read*Write*Believe.

Kelly Fineman will be posting a poem a day at Writing and Ruminating, with insightful analysis, as always!

Laura Shovan is taking a Poetry Road Trip at AuthorAmok — touring all 50 states and checking out their poet laureates!

Adult poet, Kelli Russell Agodon, is hosting a Poetry Book Giveaway at Book of Kells. A number of poet bloggers will each be giving away two books of poetry at the end of the month — one of their own books and the other, by a favorite poet. The drawings are open to all, whether participating in the giveaways or not (more details here). This is a great way to learn about new poets, visit their blogs, and to extend our reach beyond the kidlitosphere. I’ll also be giving away two tasty books right here at alphabet soup (details tomorrow).

So much poetry, so much to look forward to! (If you know of any other special celebrations, leave the info in the comments so I can add them to my list.) To learn more about National Poetry Month, visit Poets.org.

Oh, better hold onto this ticket just in case. Whenever you feel a cupcake craving coming on, wave it at me. I’ll make sure you get a cuppie lickety split :).

credit: Irish Rose.