World Poetry Day
Hailie's informative article is an exploration of the signifigance behind World Poetry Day and ways to celebrate the event.
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Poetry’s Not Dead: World Poetry Day
Poetry’s Not Dead: World Poetry Day
By Hailie Zintzun
By Hailie Zintzun
Poetry, also known as everyone’s favorite unit in English class, is a form of literary expression that has been around for centuries. Throughout its history, it has served as an irreplaceable connection between people. It has been able to cross the lines written by society and deliver messages in a distinctive way that cannot be replicated by any other literary means. World Poetry Day celebrates the significance of poetry as it aims to honor the poets of the past while simultaneously inspiring the prospects of future generations. In the time since UNESCO declared the creation of World Poetry Day, it has been an event set to display how poetry is connected to culture, history, and individual identities.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization first deemed World Poetry Day to be held on Mar. 21 in the year of 1999. The day was meant to serve as a way to educate individuals on the significance of poetry and the people responsible for creating it. According to National Today, “The day was proposed and adopted by UNESCO in 1999, on the occasion of its 30th General Conference held in Paris to ‘give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements.’” Beyond this, the day has also focused on making a space for linguistic diversity and endangered languages to be represented. Due to poetry being a universal method of expression, it can create connections between vastly different people in a way few other devices can. National Today shares a similar judgment: “No other type of literature creates such a plethora of feelings and emotions as the abstraction of poetry.” Since the day is still a young celebration, there may be some who wonder how it is to be properly recognized. There are several routes for one to take in approaching this celebration. Attending a poetry event such as a festival, poetry club meeting, or local poetry slam could be an ideal way to spend the day. If one is up for it, taking a stab at writing poetry could also be a beneficial contribution to the festivities. However, if one prefers to read poetry rather than write it, then reading an assortment of poems, whether they be by a personal favorite poet or an exploration of someone new, is another exceptional course of action towards observing this event. Just as in poetry itself, the method in which one chooses to celebrate is entirely up to individual interpretation.
Photo Credit: Lake Oconee Life
Regardless of how one may choose to celebrate World Poetry Day, the true meaning behind it goes beyond the singular day of festivities. Some of the oldest and earliest poems, such as the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” were written around 2000 B.C. Naturally, poetry has tremendously expanded and transformed since these first works. Countless languages, cultures, writing forms, and philosophies have been preserved through poems as the years have progressed. One of the most beautiful aspects of poetry is that it can appeal to any variety of people. Poetry covers a wide array of topics, genres, and perspectives. If there is a certain category of poetry one wishes to pursue, then there are doubtless many to choose from. Poetry is also an excellent way to learn more about individuals from a different walk of life than one’s own. There are numerous opportunities for a person to explore a path of thought they have not previously ventured down before, which has the potential to lead to a greater understanding of others and build a sense of community. Poetry is very closely related to music. If a person finds themselves enjoying the contextualization of songs and their lyrics, then looking at poetry could provide a satisfying result to this curiosity. As Oliveboard describes this experience, “If you love music, you secretly love poetry! The rhythms and beats of poetry are similar to your favorite songs. Both use creative writing techniques like metaphors and alliteration to express emotions and meanings.” Therefore, even if someone is not a particular fan of poetry, there are elements within it that they could subconsciously enjoy. The significance of poetry is not to be understated, because as its century-long history infers, it has made more than a notable impact on the world.
Of course, there would be no poetry without the brilliance of the minds behind the literary pieces. Well-known poets have earned their claim to fame for various causes. Shakespeare is perhaps the most famous poet, and for good reason. He established an entirely new form of poetry, now known as Shakespearean English. Inventing new words and phrases was his speciality, and that gift has had an effect on poets to this day. Similarly, T.S. Eliot and Robert Frost experimented with the structure of poetry that transitioned the traditional “limitations” of poetry. Edgar Allan Poe effectively established gothic themes in his poetry, bringing justice to the genre in a sense that it never had previously. Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, and Sylvia Plath are all examples of women who stood out and made a name for themselves in what once was a male-dominated profession. They each had a specific style of writing that has consistently been imitated and praised. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman each held a respective role in the Transcendentalism Movement, which would revolutionize the concept of poetry at the time. Each poet contributed something different and special to the world of poetry, all of which has led to what it has now become. World Poetry Day is quite a fitting time to give poets such as these their rightful dues, and to pay tribute to the legacy they left behind for us to follow and grow from.
World Poetry Day is a reminder to all about the value of poetry and the impact it has on our society. The day is not only a cause of celebration but also of reflection and inspiration. Nearly anyone can find a piece of poetry that fits their interests due to the expansive selection available. Even if one is not accustomed to having a taste for poetry, it could do one good to take this celebration to sit down and give one a chance. Or, if one prefers, to write a piece of their own! Poetry is a collection of cultures, languages, and philosophies. Although it may not be everyone’s favorite topic to learn about, on this special day, let us consider the rich history and connections that have been made through these works and give due to the individuals responsible for creating them.
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