During this meeting a general cutural program was set up for the period stretching from september 1999 to september 2000. The committee also decided begin this program by celebrating the 40th day of the death of the poet Abselwahab Al-Bayati out of consideration for his avant-garde role in the consolidation of the values of poetic modernism, his defense of modern poetry and the poet’s freedom. this commemoration will be achieved with the collaboration of Al-Masrah-Al Jawal in Casablanca, on saturday, september 1999.

In view of the abundance of poetic and critical publications, the committee has judged in better that its ‘’poetic saturday’ charge from a monthly to a bi-monthly meeting, in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech. To perpetuate one of the outstanding activities of ‘’the house of poetry in Morocco’’. Moroccan poetry reading evenings will continue as a tradition. Thus, a poetry reading of Malika Assimi will take place on saturday, November 13, 1999 at ‘’Al-Wasiti’’ in Casablanca. The house of poetry in Morocco will also continue to invite poets from different part of the world.

The committee also fouded a sub-committee which will bring its assistance to the prepatation of a scientific session which will bear the name, this time, of ‘’Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine’’ with the collaboration of King Abdelaziz Al-Saud for the humanities and Islamic studies, in Casablanca. The topic of this session will be ‘’Modernism in Moroccan poetry of 20th C’’.

In the filed of publication, the committee proved its satisfaction to see the first issue of the house of poetry magazine come to light. Thus, another sub-committee was given the responsibility of future publications in addition to the newsletter whose first issue came out Last June.

The house of poetry will also start worshop all over Moroccan cities which will comprise exhibitions poetry recitals, with the coordination of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the delegation fo the ministry of Education.

In view of the necessity to organize the International Festival of Poetry in Casablanca, it was agreed that the festival would be in september in Casablanca.

In an attempt to make the voice of Moroccan poetry heard over the world, the house of poetry will participate in international activities such as the meeting of Algeria sponsored by the UNESCO, the international festival of poetry in Canada, the meeting of Bordeaux in France, 14-17 october.

At the end of the meeting a list of new poets, critics and artists willing to be granted the membership of the house of poetry was established. Methods of coordination with other organizations at home and abroad were dealt with.

A program of the activities will be announced later.

This wave of poetical depth aimed at the awakening of the world, and the salvation of poets from domestication and death. It is something which is taking place during the ultimate seisms of the end of the second millenium: The fall of the great utopias, the waning of thought, the reign of mercantile law and logics, racial hatred ans ethnic cleansings, the press rage for predominance, etc... These elements sum up the extreme degree of our despair, characterize a period of time which excludes even discursive possibilities to drive away hatred.

We believe, with other poets in many parts of the world, that awarences can be recovered through the liberating power of poetry, thus laying a new and strong basis for the reinvention of the world and culture.

The celebration of eveants related to poetry the place continuously in an unprecedented way. Theses include:

- The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the death of the French poet Mallarmé,

- the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the German poet Goeth,

- the consecration of the year 1999 to the Russian poet Pushkin.

Such events testify to the high esteem in which we hold poets and poetry.

The House of Poetry in Morocco organized also the 1st International Festival of Poetry in Casablanca, which was a premiere in Morocco and the Arab world. This international event, which caught the interest of the public and the press, is part of a general turn of awareness taking place in different places in the world.

The festival was an occasion for the House of Poetry to address a call through the UNESCO to many international institutions for the establishment of an international day of poetry. The call was met with approval, and the necessary procedure is now running its course.

Other unddertakings, which translate the aspirations of Moroccan poets, will see the light of day during the year 1999. These include:

* The multiplication of meetings with poets to present their recent publications. These are to take place on the first saturday of every month (the poetry saturday).

* The publication of a review.

* Par ticipation in the celebration of cultural events both in Morocco and abroad.

* The organization of special evenings for Moroccan poets.

Therefore, we can say that the celebration of the poetry day in Morocco is taking place this year in very positive cultural conditions, characterized by the triumph of poetry, plurality, and high future prospects.

The House of Poetry in Morocco

Casablanca, March 30th, 1999.

Upset by the extreme difficulty to speak about poetry in an everday language; I once came across an interview held with a director of a school of commerce. Among the things he said: ‘’The problem with the computer science is that it deals but with a set of knowledge expressible only orally or in written’’. He then went on to say that ‘’People’s ideas are governed by a silent knowledge hard to express’’. In our relation with others, we have to remember that this silent knowledge exists within every one of us in that our life is subject to it.

What a curse! I had to embellish this idea, since it is my idea even though it never crossed my mind. it is very familiar to me. It might have been taken from me and given to the director of the school of commerce. He might have read it or heard it from someone else or it might have come to him in a dream. Ideas float in the air only chance can decide where they would be recorded.

However, now I understand more exacly where we need poetry, what is talks about and why the computer cannot be a poet, for, despite the fact that simplified theories about evolution describe living Creatures, including man, as being intelligent machines and whose sole objective is to stay alive and multiply, we nonethelers know that this is only part of the truth or not a truth at all.

In our often but relatively noisy inner silence, contradictory influences interact where attempts towards self-destruction block our tendency of survival and multiplication - Very often, it is our fear to die that keeps us alive. Hence, all our visible interpretations of our inner world are necessarily fake.

Now and then, rarely though, I happen to read a poem whose truth impresses me. Yet, I cannot limit that impression to a single word, or a few lines, a few images or to the rythm of the poem. Perhaps the poem is in its totality simple. But the moment I take to interpreting it, I am soon suprised to find out that the essential has not been said yet.

I came to the conclusion that a poem such as this one, which expresses truth (the silent knowledge), does possess a precise aspect to name it. I imagine that the author of the poem has offerd me, in addition to an aesthetic experience, a proof to our likeness. We are not alone, neither he nor I.

My poems are not particularly superficial or silent. Most of them are not as such. I am a poet whose world is abounding with solipsism as if he were not only the axis of pivot of his own self but also that of the whole world. Yet, I still would like to transmit to the world the fact that this personality is aware of the incompleteness of the relativity that is tearing it apart. Within the depth of its maddening being spreads a deep silence, a sea of silent knowledge which it didn’t itself create, not even with magic but was itself a recipient of it, somehow, a legacy bequoathed by a chorus of live species, through multiple silent voices, from beyond, from its very own human species, its cultural envitonment.

Through silence, I suppose I was able to communicate with those whose keep silent wisely; those who, at, first, use the language of noise with joy and difficulty yet, deep within themselves, resides the very silence which I mean.

I come to this reckoning: As far as I am concerned aesthetic experience resulting from a poem (poetry) is tighly related to its capacity to communicate.

General Dierector of UNESCO - Paris

for an International Day of Poetry

June 29, 1998

Poetry is the first song of humanity. it is the artistic expression conveyed by words, the oldest and the youngest at the same time. Entire civilizations were born from poetry, peoples and cultures identified to it.

Poets today are still pursuing a primordial task to preserve the vital force of poetry to help keep company to human biengs in the world of torture, solitude and lack of insight. This is where poetry helps discern the essence of what sings the humane part in us, in our endless quest for more fgreedom of expression, in our desire to live in peace, to follow tracks of friendship between peoples and cultures; thus rebelling against all forms of discrimination and conflict which are tormenting biengs at the turn of this centry.

Humanity has never felt so strongly as now the increasing needs to keep poetry alive and sensitive in our theatened life. Numerous factors keep reminding us poets, editors, associations, local, international and non-gouvernmental public institutions, of our responsibilités in supporting poetry at the face od the declared hostilities of a globalization which privileges a frentic consumption and a crushing overflow of information.

Amidst such deliberate stifling and so that poetry be devaluated and kept out opf the public scence, poetry calls for a diffrent future. It necessitates the fundamental interest which helps hear the Word’s Chant crossing human continents and its unique voice reaching the values of the highest communion: the only possible language among the citizens of the earth.

For all these reasons, the House of Poetry in Morocco which has been celebrating since its crration on Dec 21, 1996 a Day of Poetry, adresses to UNESCO a call full of hope and earnestness for an International Day of Poetry. It is a day which inscribes itself in the frame of other international days such as the International Day for Drama. We have a profound conviction that poetry is worth having an international day in which all the people of our planet, each in his/her language can sing their love and hope for peace, freedom and equality.

We hope this letter will find in you, the Poet who lives in and for poetry, and the Director General who is in charge of the defense of the principles of the International Community which is the basis of the cultural field, the heeding it hopes for.

As far as we are concerned, we inform you that in collaboration with Moroccan institutions, we are preparing a poper correspondence to address to UNESCO according to the required official prodedures.

With warm gratitude we remain dear Sir.

Truly Yours.

Mohammed BENNIS

President.

Letter addressed to Mr. Mohammed Bennis

President of the House of Poetry, Casablanca

UNESCO

Director General

August 31, 1998

It is not until July 1, 1998 that I first learnt through ambassador Berrada of the content of your letter of Ferbruary 27. In fact, I haven’t received its original version. As a consequence, I feel sorry not to be reply to your letter.

The creation of the House of Poetry in Morocco, together with all the important activities achieved ever since its existence have attracted my attention. congratulations for its project to organize a festival every other year. Given the international dimension of this cultural manifestation, I whole heartedly accept to grant it the patronage of the UNESCO for the first edition, which will be held in Casablanca September 23-26.

It would actually have been my pleasure to accept your kind invitation to participate in this event, hadnt it been for some engagements, I have prearranged a long time ago, which prevented me from attending. I seize the opportunity, however, to wish you good luck and success.

Moreover, I am particularly interested in your letters respectively dated June 29 and July 10, 1998, in which you hope that the UNESCO designs an international Day of poetry. I am glad to inform you that I have decided, in response to your request, to study the faisability of the declaration of such a day, and that the secretariate is in the process of consulting the asssociations and big non-governmental organizations which work in favor of this literary genre, such as the International Federation PEN, the Parliament of Writers and the Association of Literary Critics.

The achievement of such a study is rather necessary. Like the International Day of Drama, declared by the International Institute of Drama (and not by the UNESCO), and internationa Federation PEN. The autorities of your country will be informed by the results of this study.

While we thank you for your interest in the activities of the UNESCO and in poetry, we like, sir to believe in our confirmed distinguished regards.

Federico Mayor.

(i) In nowadays world, there are unfulfilled aesthetic needs. Poetry can meet these needs if its social role of interpersonal communication is recognized and continues to be the means of arousing and expressing awareness.

(ii) Over the past 20 years there has been a strong revival of interest in poetry, with a proliferation of poetry activities in the various member states and an increase in the number of poets.

(iii) It is a socail need, which incites young people in particular to return to their roots, and a means whereby they can look into themselves at a time when the outside world is irresistibly luring them away from themselves.

(iv) Moreover, as an individual, the poet is taking on a new role as the public becomes more and more appreciative of poetry evenings with readings by the poets themselves.

(v) This shift in society towards the recognition of ancestral values also represents a return to the oral tradition and an acceptance of speech as a means of socializing and structuring the individual.

(vi) There is still a tendency in the media and among the general public to refuse to take the poet seriously. Action is needed to free ourselves in order to make this image a thing of the past and to give poetry its righful place in society.

UNESCO’S ROLE IN PROMOTING POETRY

The initiative of a global in favour of poetry would give recognition and fresh impetus to national, regional and international poetic movements. The main objective of this action should be to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.

The day would be celebrated throughout the world, starting, from 2000. the idea that it might open tthe Cultural Olympics to be held in Delphi, Greece, in 2001 is also under consideration.

As the 21st March is to be devoted to the elimination of racial discirmination, it would be a good idea that, during the first instance, two causes are associated in their celebration in the same day.

At a time when poetry is flourishing, this day could provide an occasion for activities and efforts carried out at different levels to support poetry and more particularly to promote:

(i) the efforts of small publishers who are struggling to enter the book market by publihshing more and more collection by young poets;

(ii) a return to the oral tradition, or rather to live performance, since poetry recitals attract more and more poeple today;

(iii) the restoration of dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music, painting and so on, and with topical themes like the culture of peace, non-violence, tolerance, etc.;

(iv) the association, on the occasion of the International Day of Poetry, of all the arts and philosophy, which is also akin to poetry, so as to breathe new meaning into the dictum of Delacroix who wrote in his Journal: ‘’There is no art without poetry’’;

(v) the image of poetry in the media so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered an outdated form of art but rather one which enables society as a whole to regain and assert its identity.

PROGRAM OF THE CELEBRATION

Each country is invited to celebrate the day of 21 March in its own way, with the active participation of National Commissions, Non-Gouvernmental Organizations, the public and private institutions concerned (schools, municipalities, poetic communities, museums, associations, pulishing houses, local authorities and so on).

For its part UNESCO will endavour to encourage and support national initiatives, inter alia, to:

(i) furthr the introduction of poetry as an important feature of arts education in school curricula;

(ii) raise awareness in schools so that the International Day of Poetry will be celebrated in the most interdisciplinary way possible by and in schools;

(iii) encourage the award of poetry prizes;

(iv) mobilize municipal authorities so as to contribute actively to the preparation and celebration of the International Day of Poetry; and

(v) promote the creation of a network of prizes in each Member State (and Association Members);

(vi) elaborate an electronic repertoire of poetic institutions and/or associations in different Member States and associated Members.

RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF UNESCO ADOPTED ON NOVEMBER 15, 1999

The General Conference,

1. Having considered proclamation of the 21st of March as the International Day of Poetry, together with the Executive Board’s decision concerning such proclamation,

2. Endorsing the recommendations of the ad hoc meeting whose conclusions are set out in document 157 EX/9 and which, following a detailed analysis of the state of poetry as the century draws to a close, regards the proclamation of a day for poetry with satisfaction and enthusiasm,

3. Convinced that the initiative for a world wide event in support of poetry would give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements,

4. Mindful that this event, which responds to aesthtic needs in the present-day world, must have repercussion in the promotion of linguistic diversity, since through poetry, endangered languages will have greater opportunitties to epresss themselves within their respective communities,

5. Mindful also that a societal movement expressed in the recognition of ancestral values is also a return to the oral tradition and acceptance of the word as a socializing and structuring element of the humain individual, and that such a movement, which may help the young to recover basic values, constitutes a means for them to come face to face with themselves,

6. Recalling that, since poetry is an art rooted both in the written text and in the given word, any action to promote it should be conductive to an intensification of international intercultural exchages,

7. Proclaim the 21st of March as the International Day of Poetry,

8. Invites the Member State of UNESCO to take an active part in celebrating this Day, at both local and national level, with the active participation of those mentioned at the beginning of the Program,

9. Invites the Director-General of UNESCO to encourage all initiatives taken in this respect.

The national committee held a meeting to conceive of the ways to prepare for the commemoration of this day and the role its diffrent parts may play, both at the level of cultural cooperation and animation and at the level of the media.

Needless to say that it was Morocco, through the house of poetry that the poetry world day was established by the ESSESCO.

The world over will celebrate this day, including Morocco which will celebrate it its own way. On this occasion, all organization, associations, poets, artists and intellectuals all over Morocco are requested to contribute towards the celebration of this day.