April 30th is recognized as both National Honesty Day and Poem in Your Pocket Day, concluding National Poetry Month. The initiative, established by the Academy of American Poets, encourages individuals to carry and share poetry with others. Seattle Civic Poet Dujie Tahat discussed this with KUOW’s Kim Malcolm, sharing his thoughts on the practice.
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The Academy suggests that people print short poems, fold them, and hand them out to co-workers or classmates. Tahat expressed his enthusiasm for this idea, stating, "I am a strong proponent of more poems in more places." He emphasized that poetry serves to remind us of the power of language as a connectable material in our lives.
Beyond sharing poems, Tahat noted his past experiences of leaving folded origami cranes as poetic messages. Recently, he enjoys identifying everyday phrases or ideas as poetry, advocating for a broader interpretation of what poetry can represent.
In the interview, Malcolm asked Tahat if he had a poem to share, to which he responded with a piece by Lucille Clifton, “Let There Be New Flowering,” which is tattooed on his forearm. He described it as evocative of spring and shared his hope of accumulating more lines of poetry as tattoos over time.
When discussing his favorite seasons for poetry, Tahat acknowledged the beauty of Seattle summers but expressed a particular affinity for the themes of renewal and change found in spring and fall. He noted that these seasons resonate with his inner experiences, reflecting the cycles of nature.