Poets convey a timeless message. They are often key witness to history’s great political and social changes. Their writings inspire us to build lasting peace in our minds, to rethink relations between man and nature and to establish humanism founded on the uniqueness and diversity of peoples. This is a difficult task, requiring the participation of all, whether in schools, libraries or cultural institutions. To quotethe poet Tagore, the150th anniversary of whose birth will be celebrated this year,
"I have spent my days in stringing and unstringing my instrument."
Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
Message for World Poetry Day
21 March 2011
for more information about UNESCO's World Poetry Day go to
http://www.un.org/en/events/poetryday/
