John Cooper Clarke is ready, so why aren't I?

So it’s ‘National Poetry Day’, no, no, it’s bigger than that it’s ‘WORLD Poetry Day’! As a poet I should have something profound to post, something new, something ready to celebrate poetry on this wonderous day of celebration. Sorry to disappoint, but I am as usual, unprepared.

Whether that’s the poet in me, or just the ‘me’ in me, if you know ‘me’, you’re probably not surprised. I do feel a sense of responsibility as a poet to support and I should be prepared (it’s been running since 1999 or so google tells me). Honestly, much like National Poetry Day here in the UK, which was actually founded five years before World Poetry Day, I know very little about it. So I figured now was as good a time as ever to do a bit of research.

Originally founded by UNESCO the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (what a mouthful) "with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard". Itself an amazing raison d'etre, UNESCO, through its ‘Cities of Literature’ program helps celebrate poetry across the globe. Of course, whilst many countries have one or two of these ‘Cities of Literature’, the UK has five! I have no excuse.

One of these cities is Manchester which this year, in celebration of World poetry Day is hosting the right honourable Dr John Cooper Clarke at the Co-Op Live Arena! Posters and targeted ads via Instagram are the reason I even know about this year’s World Poetry Day, at least one positive from my social media addiction.

Looking further into the celebrations I am blown away by hundreds of events throughout the UK and the globe, celebrating poetry because of World poetry Day. Alongside the cities of literature events, there’s also many unofficial (probably not the right phrase) related events and workshops celebrating poetry.

If I was being cynical I might have said something like “Do we really need a day?” But I love poetry, reading it, writing it, listening to it, standing on stage performing it, and finding new ways to infiltrate peoples day to day with poetry. Whilst I’m late to the party for this year’s World Poetry Day, I’m clearly missing out, my couple of hours research has really opened my eyes on its importance. I promise – with the poetry Gods my witness - next year I will be ready!

That said, the UKs NATIONAL Poetry Day isn’t until the 3rd of October so I’ve got about 197 days to redeem myself, at least a little.