With poetic words and melodious poems and high-level attendees, the major international celebration “Poets… Wings of Peace,” that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Arab Poetry Academy in Saudi Arabia co-organized, kicked off in celebration of the World Poetry Day with the participation of many outstanding poets, writers, and specialists.

After the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran at the beginning of the celebration, held face-to-face at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat and by videoconference, the speakers of the opening session recited poems in praise of poetry and poets. The speakers also called for attaching due care and importance to poetry, a literary art rooted in all cultures around the world, and use as a vehicle for progress that enriches the noble and common human values.

At the opening session, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural Advisor to the Director-General (DG), delivered ICESCO’s welcome address followed by the screening of the video “The Bird of Grey Tales,” which ICESCO produced to celebrate World Poetry Day. The video touched on the multi-dimensional character of poetry transcending all walks of life.

Addressing the audience, the guest of honor, Mr. Mohammed Benaïssa, Secretary-General of the Asilah Forum Foundation, reaffirmed that poetry is an ancient art rooted in world cultures, including Islamic culture, and that there is no science or thought that truly expresses the humans’ inner taste and feelings of beauty like poetry.

Mr. Benaïssa thanked ICESCO and its DG for organizing the celebration and recalled that the Asilah International Cultural Project, which started with poetry and visual art in Asilah, the city of art and poetry, was first organized in 1978. He also noted that this project focused on poetry and thus hosted several senior poets, Arabs and non-Arabs alike.

Speaking on behalf of the Arab Poetry Academy, Dr. Mansour Al Harthi, praised the ICESCO’s great cultural role and touched on the Academy’s role in supporting poets, discovering young poetry talents in different educational stages, and publishing collections of the best poems that young poets authored.

The famous poet Mohamed Achaari then recited the poem “Dead Leaves.” In his contribution, the poet provided a representation of the phases of the consciousness of the Moroccan poem, poetic tenses. Prior to his recitation, Mr. Achaari delivered an address wherein he stressed the need to accord a high position to poetry in one’s life and called on poetry lovers to see poetry as a key development factor instead of a luxury.

Through his poem “A Nod in the Poetry Season” which he composed on the occasion, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO DG, presented his greeting to the attending poets. In the poem, Dr. AlMalik says: “the scents of beauty are smelt from the poems of poets on the day of their global celebration; the flowers of ghazal, wisdom and pride illuminate the darkness of trees of sorrows and anxiety and breathe the feelings of reassurance, confidence and glamor in souls.”

The opening session of ICESCO’s celebration of World Poetry Day closed with a musical performance “muwashahat” by the Moroccan artist Karima Skalli.