We’ve been celebrating National Poetry Month all month long here at Deep South, but today we’re encouraging all of you to print out a poem from our site and carry it around with you. April 26 is National Poem in Your Pocket Day. Poems from pockets will be unfolded throughout the day, with events in parks, libraries, schools, workplaces and bookstores across the country. Poets.org also suggests sharing your poem with coworkers, family and friends and on Twitter by using the hashtag #pocketpoem. We think pulling up one of our poems on your iPhone or other Smartphone counts too!

Our poem of the day today is “Hymn Below Sea-Level” by Katie Bickham, an ode to the great state of Louisiana as two of our major festivals, Festival International de Louisiane and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, kick off.

Here are a few other poems from our site that have quickly become favorites and would be great to print out:

“Same Stars, Different Houses” by Mississippi poet Wynne Huddleston

“Black Crow across Green Trees” by Louisiana poet Barry North

“Our Spirits Shall Sorrow No More,” a spoken word poem by Tennessee’s Kory Wells

“Lovebug Seasons” by Florida cracker poet John Davis Jr. 

“TIME” by Arkansas poet Patricia Oplinger

“Seersuckered” by Louisiana poet Beau Boudreaux

“Southern Living” by Alabama poet Melva Holliman