Dom Conlon features in UNESCO's Creative Cities of Literature celebrations for World Poetry Day 2021
To mark World Poetry Day on Sunday 21 March, UNESCO’s Creative Cities of Literature around the world organised a range of events and activities aimed at showcasing their local literary talents while sharing messages of solidarity, hope and resilience amid the current pandemic.
Manchester City of Literature, together with the Manchester Poetry Library, created a film featuring poets reading specially commissioned poems on the theme of ‘Doors as portals of hope’. The readings were delivered from iconic doorways around the city, celebrating its longstanding vibrant poetry scene.
Among the seven commissioned poets is Dom Conlon, author of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal-nominated This Rock, That Rock - Poems Between You, Me and the Moon, who opens the film with his moving poem, ‘The Quiet Doors’.
In celebrating World Poetry Day, UNESCO recognises the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind. During the ongoing pandemic, many doors are closed to people but poetry can help open them in different ways and inspire anyone experiencing lockdown. Poems that speak about the power of the imagination were sought, giving hope in dark times and about the door as a gateway or as the start of a new journey as the phasing to come out of national lockdown begins.
Congratulations to Dom and fellow poets for a moving and thought-provoking piece of work, which you can view in full via the YouTube link above right.
Discover more about how various UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature joined forces to celebrate World Poetry Day 2021