SAN FRANCISCO – Fans of poetry have much to rejoice this April with San Francisco Public Library’s National Poetry Month events for all ages.  

On April 19, come hear an extraordinary coupling of words and music in the featured program “When Cherry Blossoms Fall” at the Main Library. San Francisco’s 9th Poet Laureate Genny Lim and poet Nellie Wong address themes of life, death and renewal in the historical and personal contexts of their poems, accompanied by the Del Sol String Quartet violinist Hyeyung Sol Yoon. Cherry blossoms, long a symbol of life’s brevity, mark the advent of spring—an appropriate theme for this celebration of poetry. 

For those who like their poetry paired with other media, the Main Library is presenting “Street Versed: Multidisciplinary Poetry and Storytelling,” hosted by award-winning essayist, poet, playwright and film producer José Vadi, on Thursday, April 24. The event is happening in tandem with the popular Skateboarding San Francisco: Concrete, Community, Continuity exhibition, which opened last month in the Jewett Gallery of the Main Library. Inspired by the multidisciplinary culture that skateboarding both encompasses and creates, the Library asked local poets and storytellers to speak on the ways cities—from built environments, community third spaces and the dynamic changes cities embody—have impacted their lives and shaped their storytelling. The event features poets and artists Josiah Luis Alderete, soledad con carne, Kar Johnson, Sophie Yanow, former SF Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin and journalist Pendarvis Harshaw.  

On the evening of April 11, the Library is also proud to support Poems Under the Dome, marking its 20th annual event, taking place at City Hall’s North Light Court. A free open mic poetry assembly, all are invited to submit their names for the chance to read one poem. All ages are welcome at the City’s largest poetry open mic of the year. 

Other poetry events at the libraries include Kim Shuck’s monthly poem jam at the Main Library on April 10, with guests Tobey Kaplan and Lauren Parker, among others; “On the Page, Off the Page,” an open mic music and poetry session at Park Branch on April 8; a writing workshop for all writing backgrounds and experiences, “Poems about the Music of The City,” on April 10, at the Hormel LGBTQIA Center at the Main Library; and a reading from Bay Area poets Michael Koch and James Cagney, whose work centers on social justice, on April 17 at the Main Library. Additionally, author Niloufar Talebi explores the bold and innovative currents in modern and contemporary Iranian poetry with her Northern California Book Awards-nominated anthology, Belonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World on Sunday, April 27, at the North Beach Branch. 

For children and families, SFPL’s branch libraries offer a myriad of ways to enjoy poetry as well. Head to Ingleside Branch on Thursday, April 17 for “Tiny Poems,” inspired by Poem In Your Pocket Day, which began in New York City in 2002 and has since blossomed into a national movement. On Monday, April 21, listen to students from the Spoken Arts program at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts as they perform spoken word. This program, hosted by Glen Park Branch, features 2023 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate Ella Gordon. And those who want to dip into hands-on poetry composition can experience the art of blackout poetry, created by eliminating, or “blacking out,” words on a page to craft an original work. This program, “Book Art and Blackout Poetry,” takes place on Wednesday, April 30, at Ortega Branch. 

You can honor National Poetry Month as well by discovering new poets and falling in love again with old favorites. We have recommended reading lists of poetry titles for adults, teens and children. We also have a curated list of poem collections from deaf poets, which includes an anthology of poems by disabled persons.

Featured Events 

Workshop: Poems about the Music of The City – April 10, 5:30 p.m., Main Library, Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 3rd Floor 

Poems Under the Dome – April 11, 5:30 p.m., San Francisco City Hall, North Light Court 

Poem in Your Pocket – April 17, 4:15 p.m., Ingleside Branch Library  

Performance: Michael Koch & James Cagney: Against the Tide / Contra Corriente – April 17, 6 p.m., Main Library, Latino Hispanic Meeting Room 

When Cherry Blossoms Fall – April 19, 2 p.m., Main Library, Humanities Center, 3rd Floor 

Ruth Asawa School of the Arts Spoken Artists with Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Ella Gordon – April 21, 4:30 p.m., Glen Park Branch  

Street Versed: Multidisciplinary Poetry and Storytelling Hosted by José Vadi – April 24, 6 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium 

Beyond Rumi — Avant-Garde Iranian Voices – April 27, 1:30 p.m., North Beach Branch 

Book Art and Blackout Poetry – April 30, 4 p.m., Ortega Branch