Roger McGough has called on publishers to "take a chance" on poetry aimed at children, as National Poetry Day celebrates its 21st birthday.
The day will be marked by Andrew Marr, Dominic West and some of Britain's most-loved writers weaving poetry into Radio 4's schedule.While the station has also announced Daljit Nagra as its first poet in residence for a period of two years.
The winners of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award will also be announced.
Elsewhere, members of the public are being encouraged to share their poems on social media using #nationalpoetryday and #thinkofapoem.
Some of the best efforts will be selected by leading graphic artist Anthony Burrill to appear in the Blackpool Illuminations.
A poet and president of the Poetry Society, McGough admits his form of literature is "never going to be the new rock and roll".
But he thinks the UK should be proud of its enthusiasm for poetic prose, telling the BBC: "People in other countries get very jealous that there is so much interest in poetry in this country. We should pat ourselves on the backs."
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