UNESCO is United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. That answered the question for you, right? Yeah, me neither. Their website says they work “to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values.”
UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.
Sounds great! I wonder how poetry works to help accomplish this mission. The aim is to promote the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry. This day is dedicated to reflection on the power of language and the full development of a person’s creative abilities. It also hopes to provide a return to the oral tradition of poetry through recitals.
Poetry contributes to diversity. It questions our use of words, things, and modes of perception. It has the power to alter our understanding of the world.
In honor of World Poetry Day, here is a poem written by me.
The Colors of Kindness
Dark greens, stormy seas
frothy grays waves, coast bashing
crashing against raw emotion
helping him who wounded
swallowing self
for another’s needs
Pink and orange of dawn
sunrises, rays pierce darkness
helping hand stretches
to one lost in despair
answering prayer
a tiny light before day
Center bulls eye blood red
becoming the target
to save another
the courge to say no
protecting the weak
standing before the arrow
without flinching
Spring grass, soft and green
sights of birth and growth
new friendships born
old ones rekindled
new seeds sown
a healing balm
Tranquil lakes, Carolina blue
Inner peace, calms turmoil
lazy carefree afternoons
at ease knowing you
harm none, love some, help all
