Poetry is a reflective literary art that has explored the depths of human emotion and thought since the dawn of language. With its rhythm, structure, and evocative imagery, poetry has touched every genre—from the fantasies of Spenser to the horrors of Poe, and from the comedies of Shakespeare to the tragedies of, well, also Shakespeare.

One of the first known piece of literary history comes from Mesopotamia, where numerous hands composed The Epic of Gilgamesh. Beginning as a series of Sumerian poems, it proves that poetry is not only ancient, but truly timeless.

At Forest Lawn, we continue to honor this tradition through public events, museum programs, art, and architecture. Poetry can be found woven into our spaces, from stained-glass windows such as Arthurian Legend in Glendale’s Mortuary Building, to the Poets Corridor in the Great Mausoleum, and other works quoting masters like Dickens, Tennyson, and Shakespeare. Many of our sculptures are also inspired by poets, including the ancient Greek bard, Homer.

Several of our churches also pay tribute to notable poets and lyrics as well. The Little Church of the Flowers in Glendale recreates the structure where Thomas Gray wrote his beloved Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard. The Wee Kirk o’ the Heather honors the Highland ballad Annie Laurie, while the Church of Recessional takes its name from Rudyard Kipling’s poem written for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee.

While these churches have hosted countless funerals, christenings, and weddings, they were also once home to an annual Poetry Day celebration. During the 1950s and 60s, Forest Lawn held a Poetry Day contest hosted by Marvin Miller—the iconic voice of Robby the Robot in the science fiction classic Forbidden Planet (1956). Contestants submitted their original works of prose and rhyme, earning prizes and recognition.

That tradition continues today. In 2024, Forest Lawn hosted Swan Dive, a live poetry reading inspired by Michelle Jane Lee’s artwork of the same name, featured in the Museum’s Shaping Gravity exhibition. The event brought together artists including Lee, Molly Larkey, and Jen Stark, among others, reminding us of the living vibrancy of poetry.

Whether you are reciting E.E. Cummings’ i carry your heart with me on your wedding day, sharing Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham with your children, or writing verses of your own, poetry remains a meaningful way to connect with one another and with the human spirit.

From all of us at Forest Lawn—happy National Poetry Day.