Commentary
A war of attrition continues with death
a spy walking behind
a sense it follows a breath after the next
a shadow stretching back
to birth a battle cry,
today we win the war we lose tomorrow.
One can for a pocket full of policies
lose entire families—
hell is the inability to love.
We inch to the edge endangered species
wanting more than we need
computers phones gold homes cars
more animal than beasts
the corporate czar global leaders
give a harvest of grief
the Killing Fields, Rwanda, Darfur
Bosnia, East Timor,
how many holocausts before they cease—
Hell is an absence of love
in people who bend to hate and greed.
Death is the maker of creeds and men
withering away in the end
when hymns of eternal rest and peace
pour out into the air
like smoke over Syria
heaven betrayed by hells we made on earth.
~Rayn Roberts
World Poetry Day was declared by UNESCO in 1999. Each year, UNESCO meets and focuses on some particular poet and his or her works. Often, the spotlight is cast on poetry written in a minority or even rare and endangered language. Poetry recitals and similar events may also be held in various countries in recognition of the day.
Schools may have special poetry writing sessions or even contests, poets may be invited to recite their works in local cafes, and exhibits may put famous or new, local written poetic creations on display.
While World Poetry Day is on 21 March, it used to be in October, and some countries still observe it then.
