The Farmville Town Council, during its Wednesday meeting, proclaimed that the Town of Farmville would observe April as National Poetry Month following a presentation by Friends of the Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library representative Vicky Page.

Vice Mayor A.D. “Chuckie” Reid presented the proclamation to Page with Farmville Downtown Partnership Manager John Burton.

Page said the town is set to hold an event on April 26 titled “Poem in Your Pocket Day,” which will include poems, typed on pieces of paper, being distributed at area businesses and libraries across Farmville.

The event is being organized by the Barbara Rose Johns Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library, the Friends of the Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library, the Greenwood Library at Longwood University and the Farmville Downtown Partnership.

“Today, John Burton and I got to all the business up and down Main Street to talk to them about whether they would like a basket of poems,” Page said. “Every single decision-maker said yes.”

Page said poems can be expected at Longwood University and at area libraries. She noted that volunteers will walk through different areas with baskets to hand poems to pedestrians. Volunteers will also bring poems to The Woodland.

“We will make sure everyone gets a poem that day,” Page said.

Town Manager Gerald Spates, who read the proclamation of the Town’s observation of National Poetry Month, said the celebration from the Academy of American Poets is the largest literary celebration in the world.

“National Poetry Month seeks to highlight the ongoing achievements of American poets by introducing Americans to the pleasures and benefits of reading poetry by bringing poets and poems to the public in immediate and innovative ways,” Spates said, “and by making poetry an important part of our children’s education.”