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.