W. Young Junior High School recognizes ‘World Poetry Day’

By: Kathryn Campbell

Bahamas Information Services

#TheBahamas, March 21, 2022 – L.W. Young Junior High School joined poets around the world Monday, March 21, in celebration of World Poetry Day 2022.

Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin

Under the school’s new pavilion, students and teachers celebrated this day by sharing their creative abilities through poetry, recitals, music, choral speaking and languages.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) founded this day in 1999 during its 30^th General Conference in Paris. The day is set aside to “honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media.”

Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin led the list of dignitaries at the event. Also present were Her Excellency C. V. Hope Strachan, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO; Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Dr. Marcellus Taylor, Director; Dedrie Bastian, Secretary General, the Bahamas National Commission for UNESCO and senior education officials. Special guests included Arlene Nash-Ferguson and Percy Vola Francis, UNESCO representatives and local cultural icons.

Her Excellency C. V. Hope Strachan

Ambassador Strachan gave remarks on behalf of Director of UNESCOs Cluster Office for the Caribbean Saadia Beatriz Sanchez Vegas. She received outstanding applauds for the  poem (which follows) which she wrote and shared entitled “UNESCO and You”.

UNESCO is an organization that fosters peace and gives us hope.

We recognize that students need help to cope

With poverty, peer pressure, bullying and lost school time

Brought on by Hurricane Dorian, the pandemic and even crime.

 UNESCO is here to ensure that with education, science and culture you are all equipped for a bright future.

 So, you students the sky is the limit, do not despair

Let us all work together to get you there.

In brief remarks, Minister Hanna-Martin told the students that poetry begins with a blank page, for which they are the architects, and likened it to the construction of a building.

Bodine Johnson

“Like a building, a poem is crafted in the imagination, it is polished, painted, but words are used as the raw material for the construction. The end product is a beautiful piece of art. The creative imagination is a place for freedom. Freedom — an unending expanse.  Your creative imagination has no boundaries and it belongs exclusively to you.”

She urged the students to find their place of freedom in their creative imagination and tap into their creative energy to inspire, touch, move and excite the human spirit. By request of  Minister Hanna-Martin, Victoria Smith read the poem “I Believe in Me By” written by DPS Donovan Turnquest.

Other presentations included: “The Words I Speak” written and presented by Bodine Johnson, Education Officer; “I am a Bahamian” written by James Catalyn and presented by students of grade 7; “We Declare Peace” by Javan Dean; “Figures of Speech” by students of grade 9; “My Town, My People” a poem in Spanish written by Dr. Sharon Parker and performed by Kelissa Marcellin of grade 8; and “Pages of Life” written by Myeesha McPhee and recited by Anastacia Clarke and Thomeo Bastian, students of grade 9.   

(BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)