Each April since 1996, The Academy of American Poets has helped raise the visibility of poetry in American culture through the celebration of Poetry Month. And today, on the final day of April, The Academy encourages poetry lovers to especially celebrate with “poem in your pocket day.” The idea: you print out a poem and walk around with it in your pocket all day, sharing it with friends and strangers alike.

Here’s my Shakespeare in my pocket for today. “Orpheus” is a song from Henry the VIII, and I once performed (though I can’t find the composer of the particular version I sang; there have been many versions over the years!).

Orpheus

Orpheus with his lute made trees
And the mountain tops that freeze
Bow themselves when he did sing:
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung; as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.

Every thing that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art,
Killing care and grief of heart
Fall asleep, or hearing, die.

From poets.org.