By Melissa Chapman
WCPL Cataloging supervisor 

WARSAW — Robert Frost said “Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” World Poetry Day is March 21 each year and is an initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is a time to appreciate and support poets and poetry around the world. 

Poetry reaffirms our common humanity by revealing to us that individuals, everywhere, share the same questions and feelings. Poetry is the mainstay of oral tradition and, over centuries, can communicate the innermost values of diverse cultures. 

One of the main objectives of the day is to support verbal diversity through poetic expression and to offer people the opportunity to be heard within their communities. 

The observance of World Poetry Day is also meant to encourage a return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, to promote the teaching of poetry, and to support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media. 

How can we celebrate World Poetry Day? Watch a poetry reading. Share poetry with people of all ages. Add some award-winning poetry on your to-read list or start writing your own poetry. 

The Warsaw Community Public Library has many poetry books for all ages. For adults, they have “I would leave me if I could: a collection of poetry” by Halsey who is a Grammy Award-nominated, platinum-selling musician. In her poetry book, she reveals poetry of yearning, love and the nuances of bipolar disorder. 

Those interested in current events might enjoy “American Melancholy,” by Joyce Carol Oates. It is written in an immediate and engaging style. Loss, love and memory are examined, along with the disruptions of our contemporary age, the reality of our current predicaments, and the ravages of poverty, racism and social unrest. 

From the juvenile section is “In the spin of things: poetry of motion,” by Rebecca Kai Dotlich. This is a captivating book of verse. With charming illustrations by Karen Dugan, these 23 poems sparkle with clever imagery and sizzle with stunning wordplay. 

For teens  there is “When the stars wrote back: poems” by Trista Matee. This compilation of short, powerful poems from Instagram sensation Trista Mateer shines beauty and insight into relationships, love, growing up and learning to cope.