UNESCO Director-General's Message Poetry is one of the purest
expressions of linguistic freedom. It is a component of the
identity of peoples and it embodies the creative energy of
culture, for it can be continuously renewed. This power of
poetry is transmitted from generation to generation, in the
hallowed texts of great authors and in the works of anonymous
poets. We are duty bound to transmit this heritage – the legacy
of Homer, Li Bai, Tagore, Senghor and countless others – for it
bears living witness to the cultural diversity of humanity. We,
in turn, must tend it to bear fruit, as a source of linguistic
wealth and dialogue. In celebrating World Poetry Day, UNESCO
wishes also to promote the values that poetry conveys, for
poetry is a journey – not in a dream world, but often close to
individual emotions, aspirations and hopes. Poetry gives form to
the dreams of peoples and expresses their spirituality in the
strongest terms-- it emboldens all of us also to change the
world. Poets in all countries have be