Discovering a New Generation
Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award: Open for Entries
Britain’s most prestigious poetry prize for young writers aged 11 to 17 years opened for entries from all over the world on 11th March 2013 Read more[...]
For Malala Yousafzai, Shot by Terrorists
Photo © childrenspeaceprize.org
Malala Yousafzai, a 15 year old girl who has braved to work as an education and women’s rights activist in Pakistan’s Swat Valley was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban on 9th October 2012 whilst she was on her school bus. Steve Sunderland, a peace scholar, activist and poet pays his tribute to this dauntless girl as she fights on a hospital bed to win back her life, for herself and for other girls who dream of going to school without any fear.
Malala : A Tribute to Malala Yousafzai by Steve Sunderland.
Nonkilling and the Arts
A Plea of Pleas for Nonkilling – by Francisco Gomes de Matos
In so many ways the history of violence can be told
Depending on its origins and on how events unfold
In favor of a person/a community/a country there may be an action
In favor of world peace and nonviolence there may be interaction… Read more
All Poems by Francisco
The Pulse of Culture
Nimah Ismail Nawwab
The Streets of Makkah
The streets of Makkah
Long bordered with tall, tall homes,
White-washed homes, wooden homes,
Built on every corner, mountain top, ridge,
On the valley floor of the sacred land… Read more
Social Justice, Activism and Poetry
Palestine Activism by Theresa Wolfwood
The message is the right of Palestinians to live a decent life, without charity, but with international support to create a viable Palestinian state; with the dignity of a fair exchange and an opportunity for Palestinians to live productively on their ancestral lands.
Read Theresa’s Poetry on Palestine
Social Activism by Grace E. Reed
Mothers Against Pepper Spray (MAPS)
When did it get to be ok to pepper spray a line of university students in a peaceful sit down protest right in the face and mouth? Occupy is a dynamic movement for social change whose time is overdue. I remember sitting in protest when the national guard came to Kent State University in Ohio—that would be here in the United States— and fired shots, 4 died from lines of sit down protesters in the 1970′s…Read more
Poems
- Mom Is it OK?
- Mothers Against Pepper Spray (MAPS)
The Portland Occupy Movement – Grace E. Reed
When I think of Occupy I think of filling in something, a void, with interest. I have been involved with the Occupy Portland movement since it started in Oct. I had/have the good fortune of broadcasting on a local community radio station (KBOO.fm) at the Occupy site. Many people came to the mic to express their reason for being involved in the movement… Read more
More on Occupy by Grace E. Reed
- Mediating Occupy
Poetry
Legacy – by Hemani Jayaswal
“A young man remarked
On the futility of life
Reduced in the end to nothing
But dust and bones
He poigantly cried out
What then Is the point…” Read poem
Read all Poems by Hemani Jayaswal
The Hibakusha’s pain and grief – by Rumana Mehdi
The past ridicules her…
The future frightens her…
Despite all this, the hibakusha continues to cry for peace,
With wrinkled hands, she prays for violence to cease…
Read poem
An Afternoon in March – by Theresa Wolfwood
put away the banners
stack up the placards
the demonstration is over
a few hundred hardy souls
clumped under umbrellas… Read poem
All Poems by Theresa Wolfwood
An Awakening – by Ed Hunte
Today
Is my day
To live
As if there were
No beginning or ending… Read poem
All Poems by Ed Hunte
Poetry in Our Towns: Global Showcase
Poetry on Staines High Street (UK)
“Roll out the lino
from Staines to the world!
Release every pattern
from chessboard to…” Read more
UNESCO World Poetry Day 2013
Message from Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General
Poets in all countries have bequeathed timeless verses in defence of human rights, gender equality and respect for cultural identities. Paul Eluard wrote “freedom … I write thy name”. To this day, poetry brings the winds of freedom and dignity in the struggle against violence and oppression. For all of these reasons, UNESCO supports poets and… Read more [...]
Exhibitions
Dylan Thomas: The Man & Myth Exhibition
This permanently housed exhibition is an unparalleled one to be seen anywhere, not only for the giant portrayal of a poet’s life on grand walls, but also for the stories of his rise to international fame, his poetry readings in USA, the depth and breadth of his poetic works, Read more[...]
Poetry and Multiculturalism
Peace Camps of Multicultural Britain
The challenges of multiculturalism and inclusiveness are constantly being transformed in Britain at various levels, and also because the children from these Peace Camps have shown us through poetry that beneath their identities and their heritage, they connected to a very desirable and touchable human emotion of… Read more
Seeds of Yearning
Planted in the Earth – by Aya Rice
I too have been planted
In soil soft enough
To embrace me in its fold
Thick enough to hold me
As I grow into the light
Out of this
Dark Earth…
Read poem
More Poems:
The Searching Triology: by Itir Toksöz
The Poem of Let Down: by Itir Toksöz
Mom: A poem by Refaat Alareer
Women of the World
Betty Kituyi, Uganda
Betty Kituyi (Left), receiving the Third Prize at BN Poetry Award Uganda, 2012
The poem, Falling, was written by Betty Kituyi and emerged third in the fourth BN Poetry Award. The judges agreed that it was strong, beautiful, transporting readers to a new place… Read more
Interviews
An Interview With Javed Akhtar
What is the taste and aroma of poetry, when it has been left to brew for fifteen years? How big is the echo of the gulp of these poems? Javed Akhtar, one of the most prolific and celebrated poets… released his second book, Lava, after a very long pause in February 2012. Watch
Book Reviews
I Was Born There, I Was Born Here. Mourid Barghouti. 2011. Bloomsbury Publishing. London, UK
Barghouti´s story is intensely personal, his emotions dominate every page. It is a story written for his son; it is also a story that like trees has its roots entwined with the roots of all humanity, a story of the universal search for meaning of all people. He is not alone; he knows (as he said in London at his book launch) he is part of a collective voice of humanity… Read more
All Book Reviews
Poetry In Resistance
Supporting the Non-violent, Peaceful Movement in Koodankulam (India)
A Prayer by Indians – S P Udayakumar
“S P Udayakumar has been leading nonviolent, peaceful protests by thousands of villagers around Koodankulam in South India, asking for transparency and re-thinking of the commissioning of a nuclear power plant that poses risk to thousands of poor, unprivileged villagers who live around the site… Read poem
More poetry for Koodankulam:
- In Kudankulam under the banyan tree: Aswath Vriksha
- Rang de Basanti (Colour My Saffron)
- Elections Long Over in Koodankulam
Humanistic and Peaceful Perspectives
Transforming Conflicts – by Ed Hunte
Japanese word for ‘crisis’, reveals something rather more significant in how we can come to perceive things – combining the characters for both ‘danger’ and ‘opportunity’. The combination of these two characters expresses a more fundamental understanding of what forces are at play when… Read more
More by Ed Hunte
- Unlocking Determination
- Inspiring Inspiration
Chasing Doves – by Grace E. Reed
We are still at war with each other on many levels as a human race. Peaceful marchers get pepper sprayed by aggressive cops. The meek seem to get foreclosure rather than support from the greedy banking system. Gang violence is escalating and the gang members are younger and younger… Read more
Read All Columns by Grace E. Reed
Human Rights and Democracy
Ayesha was killed – by Sumeet Grover
Dedicated to the young men and women executed in Iran for supporting human rights and democracy. Read poem
Videos
Poetry Recitation Video of Javed Akhtar in Urdu and English
Who is Javed Akhtar? For urban Indians and many Pakistanis, Akhtar needs no introduction. He represents seven generations of poets in his family, and is a well known script and song writer in the Indian film industry. An Urdu poet, Akhtar not only embodies the poetic richness of the language, but also a wisdom… Watch Video
All Poetry Recitation Videos
