Dyslexia& Poetry POETRY

IS POETRY EASIER?

National Poetry Month is a celebration of poetry that takes place every April in the United States and Canada It was established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry. Despite not being nationally observed in Trinidad and Tobago, some literary organisations do acknowledge its importance and join in rising awareness and appreciation for a form of writing that is deemed vital to culture, art and life.

Wordsworth (1771–1850) famously called poetry “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings . . . recollected in tranquility ” Joseph Brodsky (1940–1996) described poetry as “accelerated thinking,” and Seamus Heaney (1939–2013) called it “language in orbit ” No matter the definition poetry is one of our most expression forms of writing, and as writing it may be difficult for readers with reading challenges

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to read, write, and spell. However, dyslexia does not necessarily mean that a person cannot enjoy or create poetry. In fact, many people with dyslexia have a great appreciation for the beauty and rhythm of language, and some even find that writing poetry can be a form of therapy or selfexpression One of the benefits of poetry for people with dyslexia is that it can be less rigid than other forms of writing Poetry can allow for more creative freedom in terms of spelling, grammar, and structure, which can make it more accessible for individuals with dyslexia. Additionally, some people with dyslexia may have strengths in other areas such as creativity, imagination, and visualization, which can make them particularly adept at expressing themselves through poetry

Month 2023

There are also various strategies and tools that can help people with dyslexia engage with poetry, such as audio recordings, visual aids, and dyslexia-friendly fonts These resources can make it easier for individuals with dyslexia to access the language and meaning of poetry. Overall, dyslexia does not have to be a barrier to enjoying or creating poetry With the right support and resources, people with dyslexia can find joy and fulfilment in this form of expression

Dyslexic Poets

Philip Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet; his memoir is entitled My Dyslexia.

W. B. Yeats is one of the most famous poets of all time, winning the Nobel Prize for literature in 1923, but few people know about his personal struggle with dyslexia