National Poetry Month: Does a Video Make Poetry Come Alive?

April 19, 2026April 19, 2026 Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment

Does a video make poetry come alive? Poetry is meant to be read out loud. Does a video of a poem make it come more accessible? Here’s what I’ve done.

2025 Videos

As I prepared for April, National Poetry Month in 2025, I recorded twenty-five videos of me reading poems from my different poetry books and one from my favorite poet, Mary Oliver. Originally, I planned to post one each day of April, but I got sick and wasn’t able to do all thirty days, but I ended up posting only twenty-five days.

As a poet, I loved reading my poetry and creating the short individual videos. I have posted them all on my YouTube channel, so they are available all year.

2026 Videos

So, this year, I had planned to get a jump on National Poetry Month, but I spent March in the states and forgot about it. I let the first few days of April slip by—I returned to Panamá on April 1^st and it took me several days to get adjusted to being here again. Sadly, I didn’t start sharing my poetry videos until April 9, but I doubled up and got all of the missed days shared.

Also, I recorded the missing five days’ of poetry that I hadn’t recorded last year. These are the five poems I recorded this year:

Self-Care Redefined in 2020 from Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better?
Childless from Was it a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry
The World I Knew – Villanelle poem from Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey
Christmas at the Horners from Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir
A Storyteller Forever from Was it a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry

So, now I have thirty poems recorded from nine of my books (one book hasn’t been published yet) and I added a Mary Oliver excerpt that has become my motto.

This year, I have posted my videos on the following social media sites. Check ‘em out!

Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn
NextDoor
Tumblr
Substack
BlueSky
TikTok
I nstagram – I thought Facebook automatically posted here, but it doesn’t, so I’ve remedied that. Starting tomorrow my poetry videos will be there, too!

You Haven’t Seen All of the Videos

Because you are on my email list, I have not inundated you with daily emails of my poetry video for the day. Last week, I shared three videos of poems in my blog, so you saw them.

This week, here’s three more:

Canyon—A Sleepy Time for Me from This Tumbleweed Landed

Time Measured Out from Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry

Age Crept Up on Me! From book #5 in the poetry series, Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry. This book has not been published or given a title yet. You are getting sneak preview!

Finally,

During April for National Poetry Month, I love putting my poetry out there for everyone to see and hear. Do you watch videos of poems read by the poet? Does a video make a difference to you in accessing poetry? Do videos attract your attention? Which poetry video from this week do you like the best? Which one from last week?

Believe me when I say that poetry is for everyone. See the topics above—all over the place, and just maybe a topic of interest to you!

Larada Horner-Miller photo - video — Yes, tell me which poem & video you like the best! I have so many!

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$3.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir audiobook cover

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haiku · My Thoughts · My Writing · Nature · poetry

Let’s Celebrate Poetry: April National Poetry Month

April 12, 2026April 12, 2026 Larada Horner-Miller2 Comments

Let’s celebrate poetry because it’s National Poetry Month. I’ve written poetry since 1986–forty years! Lin just told me he’s been avoiding poetry for over eighty years. Which camp do you fall into?

Disclaimer for Lin

Even though he doesn’t care for poetry, Lin has read all of my poetry books. In fact, he inspired my five-book poetry series.

If You Don’t Like Poetry

In school, so many English teachers assaulted curious minds with bad experiences with poetry.

I remember not reading much in school but when we did, the teacher’s interpretation was the only correct one—no room for me or anyone else to interpret the many nuances any poem offers.

Later, at the university when I got my English degree, professors opened up possibilities after they offered prescribed interpretations. But I had the opportunity to see myself in the poem. That’s when the magic happens, but so many students/readers never had that. They got shamed or totally discouraged and become anti-poetry.

Maybe rhyme seemed silly. Maybe you couldn’t figure out iambic pentameter. If that’s all you saw, you missed a whole different world of possibilities: free verse.

If You Do Like Poetry

Bless You! Someone in your life opened a door to all the possibilities out there. The good news is “According to data from the American Booksellers Association, poetry book sales saw a 7% increase in 2023 compared to 2022.”

Poetry Statistics (2025): A Snapshot of a Growing Art Form

When I read poetry, I have to suspend my logical mind and let the images, the tone, the nuances speak to my heart. Then I feel wrapped up in the words and know something I have never known before—because of that poem.

And writing poetry has become my go-to genre for many years. Here’s a haiku I wrote about the wonderful mixture I am:

Who am I really?
Manure and paper clips.
Earth and words mingle!

So, no rhyme but fitting a form: 3 lines: 1^st line – 5 syllables, 2^nd line – 7 syllables, 3^rd line – 5 syllables.

When I taught my poetry unit to my students, they wrote haikus and blew me away with their images and thoughts. Yes, a three-line haiku is poetry. Having to be selective about word choice forces the poet to work through words and language to arrive at the correct count per line and for it to make sense. What a challenge!

Is a Horse Poetry?

Today I shocked Lin, my husband, that I wasn’t writing my whole blog about the amazing Horse Parade we attended —100s of horse—to celebrate the 115^th Anniversary of Boquete, Panama. Another observer told me, “No, at least a thousand horses.” Can I write a poem about a horse, horses? Can a horse be poetry?

Here’s a haiku I just wrote about that experience:

Horses everywhere!
Bridles, saddles, quirts and bits!
A black horse prancing so!

So does it work? Does this haiku give you images about horses or a horse?

Lastly,

Poetry has always been meant to be read out loud. Because this National Poetry Month, I have and will be sharing videos of me reading some of my poetry. Hearing the poet read her own work has its own magical power too!

Here’s some samples:

From my newest book which is book #2 in a five-book poetry series, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, listen to “Spirit Coyote” about an experience I had:

From the first book in the five-book poetry series, Was It A Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, I play with thoughts about words in “Playing With Words.” Listen here:

From my multi-awarding winning book, A Time To Grow: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir, listen to “What Words Capture My Loss?:

If you would like to hear more of me reading my poetry, go to my YouTube channel to all that I have recorded so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QML0Xl_VAk8&list=PLVTJuKpv4RZd0Uv7A1ZVaBP5YmZAT2Bik&pp=sAgC

More are coming soon!

Larada Horner-Miller reading her poetry — I love reading my poet!

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$3.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

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Book Promotion · My Books · My Thoughts · My Writing · poetry · Self-publishing

Day 18 – Accidentally, A Great Week for My New Book!

January 18, 2026January 18, 2026 Larada Horner-Miller5 Comments

Accidentally, I had a great week promoting my new book, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry!

Much of my promotions for most of my twelve years in the book business have been accidental—and this week it was for sure!

Part 1 – Accidentally

As a promotional idea, I did a Goodreads Giveaway from December 28 – January 09, 2026. I gave away 100 copies of this book. 736 readers participated in the Giveaway. Because Amazon owns Goodreads, they downloaded the 100 copies without paying for them. Because I have been checking my Dashboard in KDP.com often, where I publish my books, the 100 copies shocked me. So, it took me awhile to figure out the increase in sales of 100 books with no royalties. The good news—that movement of books made Time Measured Out! #1 in three categories:

Book sellers rank on Amazon - accidentally

You might wonder why I would do a Giveaway of so many books? Here’s the stats after the Giveaway on Goodreads: 661 want to read it and 694 added the book to their shelf in Goodreads. It now has a 4.2 rating out 5 there. So I could benefit it in the future.

Part 2 – Accidentally

Because of my excellent coach, Derek Doepker, and coaching group, I entered my book in the possible “BookBub New Release for Less” promotional. I had been warned by Derek any of BookBub’s promotionals are highly sought after and well worth it. I have entered other books in the past and not been selected. This time I was, and it was for January 13, 2026. Yes, it costs a lot, but the results were supposed to offset the cost.

Part 3 – Accidentally

No, the sales did not cover the cost, but the promotion caused an increase in sales. Because of the increase in sales, the book bounced between #1 Best Seller in the Poetry about Love category and #1 New Release in Poetry About Women on January 11. Then on January 12, it stayed #1 Best Seller in about Love and #1 New Release in Poetry About Women and stayed there until on January 14. Then it was Top New Release in Poetry About Love. Amazon algorithms likes all of those identifications, so then they do more organic promoting of that book.

Amazon Ranking Data about Time book - accidentally

Two above on January 11, 2026

Happily, the promotion increased the sales of the first book in the poetry series, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry. And who know what the long-term results will be.

Finally,

Accidentally—yes, but I am going to write this formula down for my next book because it seemed to fit together nicely—first a Goodreads Giveaway and second apply for a promotion on BookBub in a timely manner. I’m proud of what happened, even if it was accidental.

I have a hard time with marketing and promoting my books. It costs money; it takes time to do all the work and it needs to be planned out and executed a month ahead of time—and I’d rather be writing! But guess what? I have put together a Marketing Plan for this year, so we’ll see what happens—wish me luck!

Larada Horner-Miller - accidentally — I’m working on my Marketing Plan for 2026. Any suggestions?

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

$3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

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My Books · My Thoughts · My Writing · poetry

Day 12 – Instructions for Living a Life—Mary Oliver-Style!

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 Larada Horner-Miller3 Comments

“Instructions for living a life:

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.”

~Mary Oliver, “Sometimes”

Mary Oliver’s Instructions for Living a Life resonated with my heart and soul the first time I read it. Because of that, I have quoted it at the beginning of both of my poetry books in the Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry series.

So I thought I’d share the Introduction to my new book, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry.

Introduction With Instructions

Life’s all about paying attention and not letting the world pass you by. Some call it mindfulness. That’s a big order, but I see that’s what I did over the years with my poetry by being present and seeing the specifics in my life around me. Prior to writing poetry and taking note of my life, years escaped me! The poet arose in me, and this is what transpires: I write poetry when I’m happy, when I’m sad. I write about what’s important—and about what’s trivial.

And now you’re getting a peek into me. Not only am I sharing the vulnerability in my poetry, but in my life.

This is the second book of poetry in a five-book poetry series that chronicles my journey from 1986 to the present, showcasing both diﬃcult times and, ultimately, my most fulfilling era. It all changed at fifty-eight and my fourth marriage, but that’s much later, in book #5.

My first book in this series, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, which covered my life in poetry from 1986 to 1998, won a Gold Award in the Global Book Awards and second place for poetry in the Next Best Reads Writing Contest, which felt so aﬃrming.

When I choose a title for my books, I consult my husband. I gave him the list of poems chronicling my life from 2000-2003, and he quickly came up with Time Measured Out. I love how this title captures not only the transformative time this was for me, but my playfulness in poetry, as well.

So much happened in the years this book covers, not just for me personally, but also globally. Because I worked as a middle school teacher, I did a lot of my writing during the summer, sitting in the passenger seat, my ex-husband driving down the road to the next square and round dance festival. The summers were my time to write, to travel, to get away from the crushing schedule of teaching, and to see our country near and far—and to dance!

Introduction Continues with Instructions

In 2000, my ex-husband, Ted, and I bought a Four Winds Majestic Flyer Class C motorhome in preparation for our 2001 road trip to Alaska on the Al-Can Highway. I dubbed the summer of 2000 “The Majestic Flyer Summer,” after our RV, as we tested it out while traveling to dance festivals.

We spent hours planning our Alaska trip, and my excitement grew as we prepared. We traveled north to the Canadian border then followed the Al-Can Highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon. The rough uneven roads made it an adventure for me, but Ted as the driver grew tired of it. But our journey didn’t go how either of us expected. We broke up in Homer, Alaska in one of the most picturesque spots, the ocean surrounding us. Ted took me to Anchorage to my cousin, then I flew home, leaving him to drive the RV back.

After our breakup, I sought refuge at the Santuario de Chimayó for the second time, but how diﬀerent my experience was this time compared to my first visit in 1991 (see book #1)!

My ex-husband and I tried to resolve our diﬀerences for seven more years, but our reconciliation didn’t fare smoothly. We did have some good times sprinkled in, but it was mostly trouble, chaos, and agony. We struggled until 2008, and I share our final breakup in book #4. Amid this, I continued to turn to poetry to make sense of life—my writing comforted me and helped me survive, and survive I did!

Introduction & Instructions Ends

Though there’ve been deep struggles in my life, my positivity always weaves its way through. In this book, you’ll see me repeatedly struggle with my relationship with my ex-husband and how I viewed myself because of it—a dysfunctional relationship at its worst! Yet I bounced back, resilient. If you’ve had similar experiences, resilience saved our lives!

The book will draw near its end with poems I wrote in celebration of my niece for her thirtieth birthday and, lastly, a tribute to my mom. Ending this book with my thoughts about Mom brings a smile to my lips and an ache to my heart! Yes, Mom, you end this second book—so apropos!

Just a reminder! Someone wrote this comment in a review on Goodreads about Was It a Dream?: “There were a few places where these poems felt amateur. In some ways that adds to the charm, but I can’t help wanting to poke at them and try to use one of the many tools we have to make poetry more eﬀective.”

Please remember this poetry series dates back to 1986, and I didn’t polish any of the poems. I wanted you, the reader, to see my progression through the years as a poet. Refraining from “fixing” them felt risky, yet I committed myself and you to this journey. And, yes—it’s been hard!

Step into my world of poetry, and don’t look back. You might decide to grab a seat and linger or even stay.

Finally,

These three short lines of instructions have become my motto in life. I always want to remember them and be sure and adhere to them—otherwise, I lose essence of the life I’m living! My poetry will direct me!

Larada Horner-Miller - instructions — First I have to pay attention!

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 – $.99 for limited time

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book – FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book or $3.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book on sale for $1.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

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Category: poetry

National Poetry Month: Does a Video Make Poetry Come Alive?

2025 Videos

2026 Videos

You Haven’t Seen All of the Videos

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Let’s Celebrate Poetry: April National Poetry Month

Disclaimer for Lin

If You Don’t Like Poetry

If You Do Like Poetry

Is a Horse Poetry?

Lastly,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Day 18 – Accidentally, A Great Week for My New Book!

Part 1 – Accidentally

Part 2 – Accidentally

Part 3 – Accidentally

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections

Day 12 – Instructions for Living a Life—Mary Oliver-Style!

Introduction With Instructions

Introduction Continues with Instructions

Introduction & Instructions Ends

Finally,

My Newest Books

Buy My Audio Books:

Goodreads reviews for Coronavirus Reflections