Find out more about the history of WPD here.
… poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace.
World Poetry Day is the occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media. As poetry continues to bring people together across continents, all are invited to join in. © UNESCO 2021
The pandemic saw a surge in people returning to writing or trying it for the first time. These writing communities were of great benefit to thousands of people as Covid changed our world.
I thank all the poets who have become part of my world and helped me through challenging times since 2020.
And of course all the poets who have been part of me doing this, since 2014.
Let’s make some poems!
Here’s a little exercise for you to try which is a patchwork of several different ideas I have used in workshops and in my own writing.
- Take a walk with your notebook (or phone), make observations of nature, write some down – remember to include sensory details.
- Return home and find a spot you never write in.
- Write longhand and freewrite from your collected lines/ a key word/ phrase or a lingering feeling (the words on your walk weren’t wasted – they got you to here).
- Explore your freewrite – circle some words and phrases.
- If you normally write in form try free verse/ if you normally write in free verse choose a form.
- This is a great site for learning form, for any level of writer and includes 15 different forms and includes some PDF templates.
- Enjoy your new constraints and WRITE!
LINKS TO POEMS:
Have a wonderful World Poetry Day – write some words and for more inspiration (and a video poem from me) check out the WLFF website: Video Poetry for World Poetry Day ~ Worcestershire LitFest & Fringe
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