WORLD Poetry Day was originally set for October 15, and it was so for many decades. However, in 1999, UNECSO declared March 21 as World Poetry Day.

World Poetry Day has its genesis in one person, a woman who not only knew of the power of poetry and has tasted its pleasures but also wanted others to be a part of this sacred art.

In 1936, Tessa Sweezy Webb started honouring poets of Ohio, USA. This vision soon caught the imagination of poetry lovers worldwide. By 1951, 41 countries were celebrating the works of their poets. Webb used the third Saturday in October for her magnanimous work, but by 1951, October 15 was accepted as the ideal day to mark the occasion; October 15 is the birthday of Virgil, the Roman epic poet and poet laureate under Augustus.

UNESCO’s declaration of March 21 as World Poetry Day was to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the UNESCO session declaring the day says, “…to give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements.”

2008 was designated International Year of Languages by UNESCO and has a direct bearing on poetry. UNESCO’s Director-General, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, in a message to mark International Day of Languages, noted the import of poetry.

“Languages are the very material of poetry, constituting the substance out of which poems are made. For poets, this year is therefore the occasion to reflect and act on the extraordinary richness that linguistic diversity offers for their art… UNESCO has been working for years to develop a standard-setting framework that can meet the challenges raised by globalisation in the field of culture.

“To that end, it adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in 2005, which offer a unified set of measures designed to offset the risk of cultural and artistic impoverishment that threatens today’s world. Its action accompanies and supports the efforts of all those who are endeavouring to safeguard and protect our cultural heritage. Such efforts will bear fruit only if they are part of concerted international action, within which poets have their full place.”

Wonderful sentiment! Whether World Poetry Day is celebrated in March or October!

We in Guyana (and in many sister CARICOM states) celebrate the occasion on October 15. We in Guyana are graced with a proud poetry tradition.

When we think of Guyanese poetry, the name Martin Carter instantly comes to mind; this is not an exposition on the poet’s work but suffice it to say that the poetry of Carter has been translated into many languages, including Spanish, Dutch and recently Hindi.

Think Guyanese poetry and consider that A J Seymour’s poetry has been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Chinese and Hindi. In Australia, one of his poems is taught in Braille.

Consider one of the first Guyanese poets, Egbert ‘Leo’ Martin who, in 1888, won an Empire-wide competition for best additional verses to the National Anthem.

Think Guyanese poets in the Diaspora, comprising many who have won international literary recognition, including Fred D’Aguiar winning the T S Elliot Poetry Prize; Grace Nichols winning the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1983; and David Dabydeen in 1984.

Think Guyanese poetry and taste its international flavour in the works of Ian McDonald, a true Caribbean man; taste that international flavour in the works of ARF Webber, born in Tobago; Simon Christian Oliver, born in Barbados; and Dr Henry Dalton, born in a British colony other than Guiana.

Think Guyanese poems, many of which were put to music, given a new lease on longevity including, ‘O Beautiful Guyana’ by Walter MacArthur Lawrence; ‘The Berbice Crossing’ by J W Chinapen; and ‘Way Down in Demerara’ by an anonymous writer.

Think Guyanese poetry and consider the poem, ‘The New Land’, by Cyril Madray Kanhai promoting tourism in Barbados.

Poetry is the mother of Guyanese literature; the first manifestation came in 1832 when the ‘Colonist’ published his ‘Midnight Musings in Demerara’ right here in Georgetown; in one sweep, at the very beginning of our literary heritage, everything local.

Although poetry is the mother of world literature, it’s a pity now that it is modestly regarded and gravely underutilised.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

Literary update
* Look out for details regarding the production of THE GUYANA ANNUAL 2008-2009; this special souvenir edition will mark Edgar Mittelholzer’s 100th birth anniversary. We are inviting short articles, reminiscences and titbits to this effect. Closing date for submissions is Friday October 24, 2008.

* Please contact me on how to acquire books launched during Carifesta X including THE BALGOBIN SAGA by Petamber Persaud.