DILI, 21 march 2022 (TATOLI) – The writer and Director of the Centers for the Study of Culture and Arts (CECA) at the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), Vicente Paulino, said that poetry reveals the secret of the soul.
The director explained that the World Poetry Day is a way of recognizing the work of writers, because they contribute to the construction of humanity and the development of the critical spirit of the population.
Vicente Paulino said that “poetry expresses reality in short words. Therefore, poets are authors of the revelation of the soul, they look for what is hidden in the heart and turn it into writing”, he told Tatoli today, in his office, at the UNTL Campus.
The writer also mentioned that, although many poets have a natural gift, they must develop and enrich their learning through many readings.
According to the director of the CECA, several Timorese write poetry and, although they do not have published books, they express their feelings on social media. “They are, therefore, for me poetic men”, he said.
The professor suggested that the Timorese try to publish their feelings in book format, so that future generations can read and study.
According to the poet, young people need to read works such as those by Borja da Costa and Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and acquire a taste for reading.
“Young students do not have reading habits, so they must make an effort to read and listen and to select and transmit information,” he said.
The poet also suggested that the Government implement a literary prize, aimed at the Timorese, in order to promote poetry.
Lourenço Lurdes Salsinha, a student at the Faculty of Education, Art and Humanity of the Department of English at UNTL, said that poetic works help students to get to know the reality of life and society, through the metaphors used in poetry.
“Poetry helps us think and have critical and constructive ideas about life,” he said.
The student dreams of writing poetry about culture and politics, because, in his opinion, culture is the identity of the people and he fears that it will be forgotten with technological development.
World Poetry Day has been celebrated since 1999 on march 21. Proclaimed at UNESCO’s 30th General Conference in Paris, it aims to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression.
The commemoration also serves to honor poets, revive oral traditions, promote reading, writing and teaching poetry. Likewise, this day seeks to foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting.
Journalist: Jesuína Xavier
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora/Rafy Belo
Translator: Camilio de Sousa
