Today, Saturday March 21, is UNESCO’s World Poetry Day. A day to take stock of how poetry affirms our common humanity. Poetry may be song or prose. It may be read or spoken. But no matter its form, it connects us to our deepest internal experiences, dreams, desires, hopes and aspirations through the words of another … giving us confirmation that we are indeed never alone, no matter how much we may feel that we are.
“Every form of poetry is unique, but each reflects the universal of the human experience, the aspiration for creativity that crosses all boundaries and borders of time, as well as space in the constant affirmation of humanity as a single family. That’s the power of poetry!”
— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General UNESCO, on the occasion of 2019 World Poetry Day
So, consider taking a moment to write a poem or to read a poem or to simply lose yourself in your favorite song and know that in so doing you are tapping into an energy that unites us all.
We invite you to enjoy the following poem by Kurt Vonnegut and come check out the poetry books we have here at the library.
JOE HELLER
True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.
I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”
And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!
Kurt Vonnegut
The New Yorker, May 16, 2005
Recommended Poetry Books:
Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein
For Everyone, Jason Reynolds
Shout, Laurie Halse Anderson
Imperfect: poems about mistakes: an anthology for middle schoolers, Tabatha Yeatts, editor
Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love, Pat Mora
The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One, Amanda Lovelace
Light Filters In: Poems, Caroline Kaufman