Celebrate World Poetry Day

By TheRaven6825 on March 20, 2016 • ( 2 )

In 1999, UNESCO decided to recognize the importance of poetry by designating March 21^st World Poetry Day. Poetry still plays a big part in arts and culture today, constantly evolving and branching off into other artistic avenues, such as: spoken work, music, and painting.

Poetry is often underrated, and many frown upon reading it assuming all poems are hard to understand. It is a craft many use to express emotions, share culture and stories from their lives, and bring awareness to causes. Poetry is a tool artists use to inform the world, while growing within. For some it is therapy, for others it is a creative delight.

If you are a writer or just love to read poetry, there are many ways to celebrate World Poetry Day:

If you are a poet, share a few of your poems throughout the day using the hashtag #worldpoetryday. While you’re at it, share some of your favorite poets as well and give them a chance to shine.

If you are new to poetry and wondering what poems look like these days, check out a few poets on social media. Instagram has a large community of artists and just enter the hashtag #poetry to see a multitude of budding poets.

For teachers, get your students involved in poetry by having them research a poet or pick a favorite poem to read and discuss in class. Have them attempt to write one if they are up to the challenge.

Embrace the poetry of your culture if you are from a different country or have ancestors in another. Research a poet from a random place in the world. You might find something unique in their poems.

Challenge yourself to write some different forms of poetry. A villanelle can be quite a task. Dabble with some words in a haiku. There are so many styles to choose from.

Support a local poet by purchasing their books, either for yourself or for someone else who may love poetry. CTU has a growing list of poets who would appreciate such a gesture.

There are many poems all can enjoy and you don’t have to be a scholar or a lover of poetry to relate to them. The words many of these artists exhale are from observing the world through the heart and soul. rather than the eyes. Poets are storytellers, psychologists, philosophers…but most importantly…they are just human.

Source:

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/world-poetry-day

Written by: Donna J. Sanders

Donna is a freelance writer and blogger in West Palm Beach, FL. She is the author of Ataraxia – a poetry collection about the struggles we face, the state of the world and how to see beauty in the simplest things, and Cardboard Signs – poems to bring awareness about homelessness, mental illness, self-esteem and the injustices many face.

Find out more about her here:

http://www.facebook.com/Creativetalentsunleashed

http://www.creativetalentsunleashed.com