Notable Quotable: Jan Seale on Why Learning Poems By Heart Matters

"Learning a poem by heart makes us participants in a uniquely human experience with pre-history origins. A poem learned by heart can circumvent the head, comfort the soul, distract demons, and provide entertainment for the restless." — Jan Seale, 1982 National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellow

Celebrate #National Poetry Month with the 2019 Poetry Out Loud National Finals! Watch the regional semifinals Tuesday, April 30, on arts.gov from 9am - 8pm ET. Then join us on arts.gov or in person at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium for the finals round on Wednesday, May 1, starting at 8pm ET. Visit the News Room for details.