World Poetry Day is celebrated all over the world on 21 March. It was declared by UNESCO in 1999: “with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.”

This special day is held every year on 21 March. World Poetry Day celebrates one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expressions. Practiced throughout history – in every culture and on every continent – poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace.

From UNESCO’s Library: UNESCO first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999, with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard. World Poetry Day is the occasion to honor poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media. As poetry continues to bring people together across continents, all are invited to join in.

Areti Vassou Poetry Books

Words and poetry had always been my best friends and family. Here are my published poetry books:

Promises. Poetry book by Areti Vassou. First published in 2001 by Fytrakis Publications. Language: Greek.

Leave me your Silence. Poetry and photography book, first published in 1995 by Medousa-Selas Publications. Language: Greek.

Stray Streets. Photography book in collaboration with Patroklos Stellakis. First published in 2003. Language Greek + English.

Soon to be published books

Two new (novel) books are soon to be published. More info coming soon.

This is a poem written for the 21st March World Poetry Day celebrations.