World Poetry Day

Celebrated annually on March 21st, 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 theme for World Poetry Day 2024 is "How Do I Love Thee?"

In past celebration, 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.

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Unity in Our World by Anusha Natraj
Read by Ansha Natraj, March 21 2021

 

We Once Stood by Sabira Malhi
Read by Sabira Malhi, March 21, 2021

 

Let No-one Steal Your Dreams by Paul Cookson
Read by Zachary Jue, March 21, 2021

 

OchintuKoiMane by Dhruv Bhatt
Translated and performed by Alpa Shah, March 21, 2021

 

To a Young Woman on International Women's Day by Theresa Caldwell
Read by Teresa Caldwell, March 21, 2021

 

Climbing the Crane Tower by Wang Zhihuan
Read by Summer Tam, March 21, 2021

 

Of History and Hope by Miller Williams
Read by Sanvi Gupta, March 21, 2021

 

पाऊलखुणा (Footprints) by Preeti Chavan (Inspired by Footprints in the Sand)
Read by Preeti Chavan, March 21, 2021

 

San Ramon: The International Community by Nitin Patil
Read by Nitin Patil, March 21, 2021

 

On the Ning Nang Nong by Spike Milligan
Read by Martin Waterhouse, March 21, 2021

 

The Home is Open, Oh Come Dear Guest by Kuvempu
Read by Naina Shastri, March 21, 2021

 

Changeling by Kathy Moore
Read by Kathy Moore, March 21, 2021

 

I'm A Potentialist by Pan Pantoja
Read by Pan Pantoja, March 21, 2021

 

Hundreds of Spring Flowers, by Zen Master 'No-Door' Hui Kai of Song Dynasty
Translated and read by Charissa Wong, March 21, 2021

 

Good Things by Barbara R. Vance
Read by Brendan Yakullis, March 21, 2021

 

Joyeux Trilles by Haïtam Robert
Read by Elisabeth Delpouys, March 21, 2021