World Poetry Day

21st March
The following is a statement by UNESCO. What
do you think the words in the gaps are?
• UNESCO first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day
during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999,
with the aim of supporting linguistic _________
through poetic expression and increasing the
opportunity for __________ languages to be heard.
• 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.
What do you think about the message from
the Director-General of UNESCO?
"Arranged in words, coloured with images, struck with the
right meter, the power of poetry has no match. As an intimate
form of expression that opens doors to others, poetry enriches
the dialogue that catalyses all human progress, and is more
necessary than ever in turbulent times."
— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, on the occasion of 2022 World
Poetry Day

• How can poetry help us in turbulent times?

Discuss the following in small groups.
• 1. How often do you read poetry for pleasure? Do you read poetry in
Spanish or other languages too?
• 2. What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word "poetry"?
• 3. What do you remember about poetry from your school days? Did your
poetry lessons put you off poetry or make you want to read it?
• 4. Do you know any contemporary poets or only dead poets (there's a
society for them)?
• 5. Do you think poetry should be read aloud or in silence?
• 6. “A poet dares be just so clear and no clearer... He unzips the veil from
beauty, but does not remove it. A poet utterly clear is a trifle glaring.”
— E. B. White, from One Man's Meat. Do you agree with E. B. White?
Poem by Andrei Voznesensky
You each have a different translated version of the poem. In groups,
answer the questions:
• Who do you think is on the other end of the phone?
• What do you think the situation is and what do you think the other
person says?
Poem by Andrei Voznesensky
• Now look at the different versions of the poem and underline which
translated language choices you prefer.
• When you are ready, compare with your group and explain why you
prefer the parts you have underlined.
Role play
• In pairs act out the phone call between the girl and the other person.
Creative writing
• Now write your own variation in pairs. For example, change the
season from winter to summer, and title it “First Fire.”