The 21st of March, International Poetry Day, is in appreciation of the power of poetry as a universal language of artistic expression that bridges cultures, emotions, and historical records. Greece, with its long literary tradition, has left the world legendary poets whose works continue to inspire. From Homer, whose epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey founded Western literature, to Constantine P. Cavafy, renowned for his introspective and philosophical poetry, Greek poets have shaped the world's poetic tradition.
The 20th century was graced by Giorgos Seferis, whose Nobel Prize in Literature in 1963 was Greece's first, and Odysseas Elytis, who won the same award in 1979 for his poetic and imagery-filled verse. Along with contemporary Greek poets like Kiki Dimoula, whose skill with memory and existentialism presents itself in her poetry, they highlight the country's ongoing contribution to poetry. On this day, poetry lovers worldwide celebrate the beauty of poetry, and in Greece, poetry readings, festivals, and events voice classical and modern voices, reconfirming poetry's role in the evolution of human thought and feeling.
Andriani, OLS Community Manager – Greek