International Poetry Day

International Poetry Day Facts & Quotes

• The oldest love poem in the world was written on a clay tablet during the Sumerian times, which was around 3500 BC.
• William Shakespeare is most often praised for his work as a playwright however he also wrote several poems. They were just as well received as his plays, some are, The Phoenix and the Turtle, Fear no more the heat o' the sun, and from The Rape of Lucrece.
• Poetry slam is a competitive event in which poets perform spoken poetry in front of an audience. It was started by poet Marc Smith in 1986 at a Chicago Jazz Club. It is typically scored on a scale of 1-10 by a panel of judges.
• Mahabharata is the longest poem in the world. The Indian epic poem contains about 1.8 million words.
• Poetry is truth in its Sunday clothes - Joseph Roux, French priest and poet

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World Poetry Day Top Events and Things to Do

• Read up about riddles, rhymes, limericks and sonnets and then try to write your very own original poem. Once written, share it on social media as a picture or a note.
• Read famous poems such as Divine Comedy, Phenomenal Woman, or A Dream Within a Dream.
• Go see a poetry slam show. It is often a dramatic performance in which poets recite their poetry. It is considered to be one of the most interesting ways of engaging poetry.
• Revisit your childhood by reading Dr. Seuss' books. Dr. Seuss was a famous poet and arguably the world's favorite children's author. Read Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Oh, The Places You'll Go.
• Revisit your childhood by reading Dr. Seuss' books. Dr. Seuss was a famous poet and arguably the world's favorite children's author. Read Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Oh, The Places You'll Go.

International Poetry Day References and Related Sites