April is National Poetry Month. Since 1998, the League of Canadian Poets has established National Poetry Month in order to celebrate poetry and encourage communities across Canada to celebrate poetry's place within Canada's culture.

The theme for 2025 is FAMILY. “Celebrate National Poetry Month 2025 using the theme family in its many chosen forms: found and chosen family, birth family, and family that defies categorization.” 

The poems featured here are through the Poetry Cafe, a program once run by the OAC. These poems and other excerpts can be found in our digital archive.

Family Portraits - Photos in Haiku by Maria DiDanieli

Hard, braced, throughout time

rock withstanding elements

his heart is like that. 

L'le bear, honey hands...

smells like flowers in his garden

youngest; gift from Light

Hailstorm. Then, sun shines.

Weather from Saskatchewan. 

Hugs tight. Her eyes watch. 

Feeding squirrels in Queen’s Park

Delight! They eat from your hands!

Two girls run madly.

Journey. Sea Rising.

Waves move our vessel forward.

Love makes our trip safe. 

Camping with Kids by Margaret Newton

Gum wads stuck to car seats

Grand Sault or roadside moose,

B-O-R-I-N-G

Drink machines or more bubble gum,

Delightful

Hotel, pool, TV, PAY movies

Room service

That’s a vacation!

I drop the bomb: 

This is fine for the road BUT 

We’re headed for P.E.I…

Camping, roasted marshmallows, 

Flashlights in the tent

One night ONLY, they plead

First the dark terrifies them

Mosquitos, far off latrine, 

Shower that wet their dry clothes

Annoyed them more

Everyday they’d whine

Where will we go? I ask? 

Back to the hotel they chant

Back home; divine