National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, Inspired by the success of Black History Month in February and Women's History Month in March, Poetry Month takes place every April in order to mark poetry’s important place in our culture and our lives. Two local authors and poets, David Harrison and Marcus Cafagna, joined us in studio this morning to read a few of their poems and talk about the importance of the art of poetry. Marcus Cafagna is both published poet and professor in the Missouri State University English Department, where he serves as Coordinator of the Creative Writing Program. David L. Harrison published his first book for children in 1969 and, according to his website, sold over two million copies. Harrison specializes in writing for children, both prose and poetry. "Poetry has won the hearts of a lot of young people over the years, as a growing number of poets find that audience to be a delightful one, and eager to learn. And poetry in
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