- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- AmericanFunHobby
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- 3rd Wednesday of July
- Holiday emoji:
- ✍️
Take Your Poet to Work Day arrives every third Wednesday of July, inviting poetry lovers to celebrate their favorite wordsmiths. Carry a cutout of a beloved poet, share a verse with colleagues, or simply enjoy a quiet moment with a classic. Let’s make the workplace a little more poetic!
Want to sponsor Take Your Poet to Work Day? Learn how
Expected Take Your Poet to Work Day Deals
While specific ‘Poet to Work Day’ promotions are rare, look for general deals on books and literary merchandise. Major bookstores like Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million often run sales on poetry collections and literary classics. Online retailers such as Amazon and Bookshop.org might feature discounts on new releases from contemporary poets. Specialty gift shops like Uncommon Goods could offer unique literary-themed items. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 15 approaches.
Platform Guide for Take Your Poet to Work Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #TakeYourPoetToWorkDay. Share photos of your poet cutouts in unexpected office locations or snippets of your favorite poems.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #TakeYourPoetToWorkDay. Create short, fun videos showcasing your poet’s ‘day at work’ or reciting a quick, impactful verse.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #TakeYourPoetToWorkDay. Tweet a line from your favorite poet or ask followers to share who they’re bringing to work.
Take Your Poet to Work Day Hero
Emily Dickinson
History of Take Your Poet to Work Day
Take Your Poet to Work Day celebrates poets and poetry and gives people a chance to carry their favorite poets around with them for the day. The creators of this holiday designed it to encourage the poetry-shy to dip their toes into this art form.
Since the inception of this day, it has been celebrated widely on social media and offline as well. Microsoft Lumia, the Scottish Parliament, Subway, NASA, Playstation, Subway, Cisco, and the Smithsonian are some of the locations that have hosted the celebrations.
Poetry began as an oral art form before written text. Historians believe that the earliest poetry was likely recited or sung. Poems were employed to keep records of oral history, genealogy, and law. The earliest written poems date to over 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, recorded in cuneiform. They were done on clay tablets and gave detailed accounts of how the ancient kings ruled their people. Poetry is closely linked to musical traditions, and the earliest poetry exists in the form of hymns and chants. Poems were a vital part of religious ceremonies or rites of passage such as weddings or funerals.
Many people still use this spoken-word art form in events such as weddings, funerals, and presidential inaugurations, which typically include professional performances.
Poetry has been used to convey deep messages, and in past, it was considered by many to be the highest form of literature. This is because of its use of all eight parts of speech to communicate ideas effectively.
Take Your Poet to Work Day timeline
The oldest known poem, “The Epic Of Gilgames,” is created in Mesopotamia, and it’s believed the author copied it from earlier lost works.
Nobles are expected to write poetry as part of their education.
Poets renew their interest in the ancient world, specifically Greece and Rome, and refer to these regions in their work.
The first modernist poets set out to break away from many of the established traditions of poetry.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Take Your Poet to Work Day
Local businesses can embrace Take Your Poet to Work Day by encouraging employees to share their favorite poems or even write their own. Consider hosting a lunchtime poetry reading or creating a ‘poet’s corner’ in the break room with books of verse. Coffee shops could offer a discount to customers who recite a poem, while bookstores might feature a special display of ‘workplace-friendly’ poets. It’s a fun way to foster creativity and a lighter atmosphere.
Take Your Poet to Work Day FAQs
When is Take Your Poet to Work Day?
Take Your Poet to Work Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, July 15, offering a mid-week opportunity to celebrate literary heroes. It’s the perfect occasion to bring a touch of verse to your daily grind.
Who founded Take Your Poet to Work Day?
Take Your Poet to Work Day was founded by Tweetspeak Poetry, an online community and resource for poets and poetry lovers. They have sponsored the day since 2013, promoting engagement with poetry in a fun, accessible way.
How popular is poetry in the US?
Poetry continues to maintain a significant audience in the US, with a 2017 NEA study reporting that 11.7% of adults had read poetry in the past year. This translates to millions of Americans engaging with verse, often through online platforms and public readings.
What are some creative ways to celebrate Take Your Poet to Work Day?
Beyond bringing a cutout, you can share a favorite poem with a colleague, start a poetry-themed discussion during a break, or even organize a short open mic session. Many people also use the day to discover new poets or revisit classic works.
Take Your Poet to Work Day Activities
Collect early examples of poetry
Locate different editions and translations of early poetry. This can make for an exciting challenge and help you to recognize the forms, themes, and images as they occur in modern works.
Take your poet to work
Buy the coloring book, color your fave poet, then cut out the picture along the dotted line. Attach it to a popsicle stick, and voila! You have a companion for the rest of the day — or as long as you like.
Recite a poem
Make the day extra fun by reciting a poem for a colleague at work. Just make sure it's about a subject or theme they find interesting!
5 Interesting Facts About Poems
Poems as secret messages
Poems were once a means of non-verbal communication — so if someone had been taken by the enemy, he left poems on walls or trees.
Poetry has evolved widely
Modern poets often use other media such as drawings to present their work.
More relatable poetry
The poets from the Romantic era were considered to be more accessible than their predecessors because they wrote about everyday life instead of lofty themes that were not relatable to ordinary people.
Afraid of poetry?
The fear of poetry is known as ‘emetophobia.’
Macabre book covering
The skin of murderer George Cudmore was used to bind an 1852 edition of John Milton's “Poetical Works.”
Why We Love Take Your Poet to Work Day
It's fun
There's nothing more enjoyable than engaging with poetry in various forms. Take Your Poet to Work Day allows us to have even more fun!
Spreads the love of poetry
On Take Your Poet to Work Day, we share the love of this art form with others. More people get to interact with poems, and that's a great thing.
A chance to support artists
Apart from enjoying poetry, we get to support the creators as well. By buying their work, attending their shows, etc., we support them to continue with their amazing work.
Social Media Tips for Take Your Poet to Work Day
Individuals
Creators
Brands