SDHC Acknowledges World Poetry Day on March 21

Poetry. It’s literally as old as human existence, dating back to the oral traditions of 3000 BCE. It’s been used for a variety of purposes in a variety of forms, memorizing history, family lineage, and law through the use of song, chant, and rhythm. From the ancient Greek epics of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey to the work of modern-day artists, poetry has stood the test of time, evolving in form and content over the centuries but never losing its relevance to and importance in everyday life.

Every year on March 21, World Poetry Day is set aside to celebrate this remarkable and valuable art form. UNESCO established this commemorative day as a means by which to promote the reading and writing of poetry around the world, as well as its teaching and publishing. The hope is to honor poets past and present, while sustaining the oral tradition and fostering its importance to cultural diversity.

The mission of the SDHC – to celebrate literature, promote civil conversations, and tell the stories that define our state – proudly embraces and acknowledges all that poetry offers in support of this endeavor. The South Dakota State Poetry Society (SDSPS) hosts a statewide traveling Poetry on the Road series, a program launched in the Fall of 2023 following SDHC’s annual Festival of Books. These events, scattered across the state, invite not only poetry writers to share their work through open mic events, but welcome listeners as well. Those attending these events range in age from high school students to those in their elder years, all sharing a love and appreciation of poetry.

Also associated with both SDSPS and SDHC is South Dakota’s 8^th Poet Laureate, Bruce Roseland, a 4^th generation rancher from Seneca, South Dakota, who has published eight books of poetry and won numerous national awards. A President Emeritus of SDSPS and an SDHC Scholar, Bruce travels the state sharing his work as a Prairie Poet, describing both the people and the realities of modern rural life. He will fill the role of SD Poet Laureate until 2027.

SDHC is delighted and honored to work closely in conjunction with both the SDSPS and the S.D. Poet Laureate, and we are proud to share in their efforts geared toward celebrating and promoting poetry reading and writing across South Dakota.

To learn more about the South Dakota State Poetry Society (SDSPS) and their Poetry on the Road program – including upcoming events – visit https://www.sdpoetry.org/poetry-on-the-road