The oldest surviving love poem is on a 4,000-year-old clay tablet simply named “Istanbul #2461.” An unknown poet writes this poem, Bridegroom, Spend the Night in Our House Till Dawn, to Shu-Sin, king of the Neo-Sumerian Empire. It’s told from the perspective of a female speaker, who expresses her intense longing for the king in an erotic manner. [1]
World Poetry Day is celebrated every year on the 21st March to honour and celebrate the diverse and vibrant expressions of poetry in different languages and cultures around the world.
UNESCO first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999, to promote the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry as a way to preserve linguistic diversity and promote cultural understanding.
Poetry can be found in the history of every nation and has been a form of creative expression for centuries. In its various forms – sonnets, haikus, odes, and free verse poetry conveys powerful emotions, tells stories, and reflects on the beauty and complexity of the human experience. I adore poetry in all its forms and love to share a poem in my newsletter each month.