April is National Poetry Month!  The month is about celebrating American poets and encouraging people to read and write poetry. It is marked by thousands of events across the state, all of which celebrate poetry. In honor of the celebration, we want to honor Illinois poets.

There have been many great poets who lived and worked in Illinois. Featured here are a few of the best-known. We know there are many great poets out there. Are you an Illinois poet? Submit your best work and we may feature it. IlikeIllinois@gmail.com

Sarah Capps was born, raised and educated in Illinois. She became passionate about art at a young age and obtained an MFA from Southern Illinois University in metalsmithing in 1972. Capps spent eight years teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Eastern Kentucky University before returning to Illinois, where she taught a variety of art classes at Rend Lake College for nearly 23 years. Now in retirement, Capps keeps busy by painting and making jewelry.

Joel Ryser became passionate about art at a young age and currently teaches at Moline High School. Outside of school, his latest interest is Hot Glass Inc., a non-profit organization he founded to teach art to teenagers. He has touched countless lives through his work as an educator, and you can read on to learn more about his artwork.

Professional chorus group Conspirare, conducted by University of Illinois alum Craig Hella Johnson, won a Grammy on Sunday for Best Choral Performance during the show’s 57th annual awards.