April is known for April Fools' Day, Autism Awareness Month, and bringing showers for May flowers. What many people don’t realize is that April is also National Poetry Month. It was originally started in 1996, and now teachers all over the country get their students involved. You don’t have to be a teacher, a student, or even someone who writes poetry frequently to help celebrate National Poetry Month. Here’s your one-stop guide to celebrating in five different ways for free because honestly, free always makes it a little bit more enjoyable.

1. Write a haiku on your favorite hike

Escape the school work and go outside. Now that it’s spring, Mother Nature is providing us all with gorgeous weather. Go enjoy it. Take a notebook and a pen, write down what you see and how you feel. Engaging with nature will allow you to eliminate stress and escape your everyday life behind a cell phone screen. Just don’t forget your allergy medicine for that pollen!

2. Find your favorite poem

Hit the books! Go to your local library and use that old library card of yours. Search up poetry books and figure out which poem is your cup of tea. Look up the big people in the poetry business, like William Shakespeare and William Wordsworth (the British really love their Williams’). Then go to the more modern poets, such as Rupi Kaur and Mackenzie Campbell. You’ll be sure to find something that speaks to you. If you have difficulty, try talking to your librarian, English teacher, or search the Internet!

3.   Go to a poetry slam near you

Almost all college campuses or high schools have a poetry club or some sort of spoken word presentation a couple times a month. If not, then most cities or towns also offer them usually for free or for a low fee around $5 or so. If you really can’t find one, then you can start one yourself. Gathering friends to speak poetry is a way to get connected, release stress, and help inspire others based off what you have to say. Share your experiences and motivate others to do the same.

4.    See if your college/high school poetry club is hosting anything

Most local poetry clubs love the chance to share their passion. See if they are offering free workshop events to help improve your skills or if they are holding a poem presentation. Some clubs even host poetry hikes, and being surrounded by a group of people doing the same thing as you can help the creative process. If you cannot find a club, then there are also online clubs to join. You’ll get to create poetry, friendships, and memories.

5.    Create a poetry exchange

Gather a group of friends. They may not like poetry or they may think they don’t understand it, and that is completely okay. Sharing can help others grow their knowledge as well as your own. By doing this, you may discover a new passion and your friends might discover a new passion of their own, too. Get everyone together in person or a group chat and take turns sharing poems. They can be short, long, new, or old and can mean something different to each person. By doing this, you are learning more about what inspires your friends and will open up new types of poetry you may have not been aware of before.

Poetry can be a therapeutic way to share your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. With finals rolling around soon, this can easily be an outlet to distract yourself in between studying. Reading, creating, or sharing poetry doesn’t have to be limited to April. As long as it is enjoyable, poetry can be a year-long passion. Go get that creativity flowing!