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Celebrate the wonder of words and language on World Poetry Day, March 21! This special day has been around since 1999 and was created to celebrate poetry in all its forms. It's a great opportunity to embrace your inner poet by writing some beautiful verses or reading works from renowned poets throughout history. Whether you're an experienced writer or just getting started, this is a wonderful chance to express yourself through creative expression.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Ancient Times</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Birth of Poetry</div><div class='timeline-text'>Poetry dates back to prehistoric times and outdates literacy itself. The Epic of Gilgamesh, written in ancient Mesopotamia, is one of the earliest known works.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>14th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Dante's Divine Comedy</div><div class='timeline-text'>Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, an epic poem written in vernacular language, shaped the future of poetry and literature.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Romanticism Era</div><div class='timeline-text'>The 19th Century Romanticism era saw the works of poets such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, and others who emphasized emotion and individualism.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1920s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Harlem Renaissance</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Harlem Renaissance marked a cultural, social, and artistic explosion. It was a period when African-American poets like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen came to prominence.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1999</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>UNESCO Proclaims World Poetry Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated March 21 as World Poetry Day to promote the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry worldwide.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Present Day</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>21st Century Poetry</div><div class='timeline-text'>Modern poetry continues to be celebrated and explored, ranging from traditional forms to free verse to spoken word. Poetry slams, digital platforms and social media have fostered engagement with poetry.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Read a poem</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take time to pick up a well-known classic or explore a new, emerging poet. Read the poem aloud and appreciate its beauty.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Write a poem</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Grab a pen and paper or open up a blank document on your computer and let your thoughts flow. Write about anything that comes to mind and share it with friends.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a poetry reading</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Visit your local bookstore, library or coffee shop for an evening of live readings from poets of all levels.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Listen to spoken word</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spoken word is an amazing way to experience poetry in a unique way. Look up spoken word artists on YouTube or SoundCloud and take the time to listen.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Share your favorite poem</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Share your favorite poem with family, friends or even strangers online. Tag them with #WorldPoetryDay and spread the joy of poetry.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Celebrates the power of words</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Poetry has the power to move us, to make us laugh, or cry. Celebrating World Poetry Day allows us to recognize and appreciate the importance of language and its ability to bring people together.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Highlights diversity & culture</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>From epic tales of ancient times to modern free verse, poetry is a reflection of its author's culture and beliefs. By celebrating World Poetry Day, we can gain an understanding and appreciation for how different beliefs have helped shape the world as we know it today.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Inspires creativity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Poetry gives voice to our deepest thoughts and feelings in a way that is unique and creative. On World Poetry Day, we can be inspired by the words of great poets from all around the world and use those works to spark our own creative side!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>A Haiku is Not Just a Short Poem</h3><p class='facts-content'>Originated in Japan, a Haiku is not merely a short poem; it follows strict rules like having three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure and traditionally discusses nature or seasons.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Epic of Gilgamesh is the Oldest Known Written Poem</h3><p class='facts-content'>Written approximately 4,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), the Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest known written poem, predating Homer by about 1,500 years.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>William Shakespeare Invented Words through Poetry</h3><p class='facts-content'>The legendary playwright and poet, William Shakespeare, invented numerous words and phrases through his works, which are now commonly used in English, including "assassination," "lonely," and "all's well that ends well."</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>There are More than 50 Types of Poems</h3><p class='facts-content'>From sonnets, haikus, and limericks to narrative poems, epics, and much more - there are a multitude of poetry formats, each with unique structures, rules, and themes.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham was Written on a Bet</h3><p class='facts-content'>The prolific children's author Dr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham," a form of anapestic tetrameter, on a bet that he could not create a story using 50 or fewer distinct words.</p></div></div>
World Poetry Day is celebrated on March 21 every year. In 2024, World Poetry Day will occur on a Thursday.
2023
Mar 21
Tuesday
2024
Mar 21
Thursday
2025
Mar 21
Friday
2026
Mar 21
Saturday
2027
Mar 21
Sunday
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