You’re forgiven for not remembering John Cooper Clarke – he hasn’t been here since the late 1970s – but not for ignoring his return Wednesday.

A combined National Poetry Month and Senior Citizen Month brings poetry reading and writing workshops led by poet populist Lo Galluccio.

Two recent collections, one a celebration of the merging of languages and the other a political proclamation, get a reading Wednesday at a Haitian Poetry Night in Cambridge’s Main Library.

Lovers of poetry will be transported Thursday at a dual-language reading by poet, teacher and journalist Emma Romeu, whose latest work, “Renovación de la luna” (“Renovation of the Moon”) looks at love, nature and Cuba, her original country.

The National Poetry Slam reaches its climax Saturday with a finals showdown, but by that time there will already be another big poetry event under way: Boston Poetry Marathon 2013, a nearly 18-hour relay of more than 100 poets taking place over three days in Inman Square.

Prolific poet and author Jade Sylvan is not so busy gearing up for the National Poetry Slam starting here Monday to offer some advice to awkward, lovestruck male writers everywhere.

The Louder than a Bomb youth poetry slam festival arrives in late May with funding needs – and a newly poignant name.

Elementary school students are invited to send poems for consideration in The Harvard Coop’s annual K–8 Poetry Contest, with a ceremony to be held at 2 p.m. May 4 in Harvard Square.

This Sunday’s Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam is the 16th anniversary of the event, and Jeff Robinson has found a way to turn up its power yet again: He says he’s bringing in 16 musicians and 16 poets to mark the occasion, even though the Lounge itself won’t be able to pack in any more people than the usual sold-out night.

The Cantab Lounge’s dimly lit basement gets packed for its Wednesday poetry slam, with a line extending up the stairs and down the block for several yards. One reason: A welcoming approach to even first-time readers as young as 18.