World Poetry Day - March 21, 2021
World Poetry Day was declared by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1999, "with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard." Its purpose is to promote the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the original UNESCO declaration says, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements."
The San Ramon Poet Laureate, Jenyth Jo, invited individuals or families to video record and read a positive-themed poem on an international theme. Poems originally written in a language, or a poem performed in a language, other than English were given preference.
World Poetry Day will celebrate poetry, the music of languages with different rhythms and tempos, and a focus on a global view of poetry and its power to unite and unify the world with positive messages. Please enjoy these poems.
Unity in Our World by Anusha Natraj
Read by Ansha Natraj
We Once Stood by Sabira Malhi
Read by Sabira Malhi
Let No-one Steal Your Dreams by Paul Cookson
Read by Zachary Jue
OchintuKoiMane by Dhruv Bhatt
Translated and performed by Alpa Shah
To a Young Woman on International Women's Day by Theresa Caldwell
Read by Teresa Caldwell
Climbing the Crane Tower by Wang Zhihuan
Read by Summer Tam
Of History and Hope by Miller Williams
Read by Sanvi Gupta
पाऊलखुणा (Footprints) by Preeti Chavan (Inspired by Footprints in the Sand)
Read by Preeti Chavan
San Ramon: The International Community by Nitin Patil
Read by Nitin Patil
On the Ning Nang Nong by Spike Milligan
Read by Martin Waterhouse
The Home is Open, Oh Come Dear Guest by Kuvempu
Read by Naina Shastri
Changeling by Kathy Moore
Read by Kathy Moore
I'm A Potentialist by Pan Pantoja
Read by Pan Pantoja
Hundreds of Spring Flowers, by Zen Master 'No-Door' Hui Kai of Song Dynasty
Translated and read by Charissa Wong
Good Things by Barbara R. Vance
Read by Brendan Yakullis
Joyeux Trilles by Haïtam Robert
Read by Elisabeth Delpouys