Poetry is the Music of Words

A thematic exhibition "Poetry is the Music of Words" is on show in the Documents of International Organizations Reading Room (207g) from March 17 to April 18, the exhibition is dedicated to World Poetry Day.

This Day was proclaimed at the 30th session of the UNESCO General Conference on 15 November 1999 (document 30C/82) and is celebrated annually on 21 March.

"Poetry," UNESCO says, "maybe the answer to the most acute and profound spiritual questions of modern man, but it requires attracting as much public attention as possible."

World Poetry Day aims to promote the development of this art form, return to the oral tradition of poetry readings, teach poetry, restore dialogue between poetry and other forms of art such as theatre, dance, music, painting, as well as promoting publishing and creating a positive image of poetry in the media as truly contemporary art open to people. In addition, one of the main goals of the holiday is to promote linguistic diversity and support endangered languages through poetry.

Poetry is one of the most ambitious and brilliant achievements of mankind. To pour out your feelings in a poetic form, to capture in rhyme one's attitude, to dream about the future and to remember the past, while addressing millions and being alone with oneself, is only poetry capable of doing so.  "Of all the arts, poetry holds the first place," Kant wrote.

Throughout history, poetry has been an integral part of society. It can be found in every culture and on every continent. Poetry unites countries, peoples, cultures and helps people understand each other. Over the centuries, thoughts and feelings, endowed in a poetic form, penetrate into the hearts of people, reminding that we are all one big family and that we, so different, in fact are very similar to each other.

The magic power of a poetic word can have a huge impact on anyone.  Poetry (from Greek "poieo": to create, create, build, create) allows you to enjoy the word, gives birth to strong, soulful words that have a special energy that subordinates our imagination and attracts us. Participation in the Day of Poetry is an opportunity to draw the attention of every inhabitant of the planet to the unique feature of this art form to touch in a person the deepest strings of the soul, to awaken creativity, to answer any spiritual questions.

Every year the World Poetry Day is widely celebrated in the Republic of Belarus. On this day, libraries, literary museums, poetry associations and theatres open their doors and hold various events. Poetic concerts are organized, where modern writers perform, festivals, competitions, forums, marathons are held, where everyone can read poems of famous poets. Often to this date-time presentation of poetry collections.

The exhibition offers you the following edition, including poetic dictionaries and reference books, materials of research on the history of poetry, monographs and educational literature on the theory and practice of poetry. Among the exhibits are collections of outstanding poets of different times and countries, modern Belarusian poetry, creations of the brightest representatives of the golden era of Russian poetry, collections of poems by poets of the Silver Age. The exhibition presents about 100 publications in Russian, Belarusian and English: books, periodicals, brochures.

The exposition includes the following thematic sections:

• Poetry and its role in preserving and developing the spiritual heritage and cultural diversity of peoples
• Poems and poetry
• Poetry of the peoples of the world
• Russian poetry
• Belarusian poetry and prospects for its development

The exhibition will be of interest to linguists, philologists, employees of cultural and art institutions, historians, as well as a wide range of readers interested in poetry and cultural diversity.

Related links:

• World Poetry Day
• UNESCO materials
• International Mother Language Day
• World Book and Copyright Day
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
• International Translation Day
• International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures
• The International Year of Languages
• Inclusion of indigenous languages from each continent
• Report on the International Survey on the Proclamation of World Poetry Day
• Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Poetry Day
• Resolution of the 30th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, adopted on 15 November 1999

The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library’s opening hours.
Admission is by library card or by the ticket of the library's social and cultural center.

For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 34.

Official Documents Service Department