Poetry is a sweet beginning for turning reading into a lifelong need.

According to the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), Afsaneh Ghiasvand, a poet, stated in an interview with the press headquarters of the 33rd Iran’s Book Week that poetry holds an emotional and influential place in our literature and culture. She continued: “Poetry can play the role of a beating heart and the spirit of words as the most important tool for expressing human emotions and thoughts in significant cultural events like Book Week; this art serves as a bridge between the tangible world of books and the intangible emotions of the reader, imbuing these events with depth and an impactful, humane essence.”

The poet, author of the collection “Zoo,” further explained: “From a practical perspective, poetry, with its concise and emotive language, can convey the main message of events and instill the importance of honoring study deep within its audience. By evoking emotions and imagination, poetry creates an engaging and dynamic space that not only enriches and elevates the cultural value of such events but also expands their audience, bringing books from dusty shelves into the hearts of people and the core of their lives.”

In response to the question of why “poetry reading” is less seriously considered as a medium in cultural events, she said: “This issue stems from several factors; the dominance of a certain misconception and stereotype in people’s thoughts and minds has been and remains the most influential factor. Unfortunately, in the view of many, poetry reading is considered a marginal and recreational program, not an independent and impactful medium, which reduces poetry from its exalted position to a decorative element.”

Ghiasvand added: “The gap between poetry and the contemporary audience is another key and important factor. Sometimes, the language or concepts of poems seem heavy or distant from daily concerns for non-professional audiences, and this gap leads planners to allocate less capital and time to this section. Consequently, the lack of seriousness towards poetry reading is not an inherent weakness in poetry itself, but rather arises from surrounding factors and prevailing societal conditions.”

She continued: “Planning priorities and false attractions are also not without effect. Event organizers often gravitate towards loud and visual programs to attract a general audience, and in this competitive environment, the silence and contemplation that poetry creates might mistakenly be interpreted and perceived as a less appealing program.”

She pointed to the role of poetry in expanding the culture of reading and said: “Poetry, with its concise, rhythmic, and emotive language, opens the doors to the world of books for many and can be a sweet beginning for turning reading into a lifelong need; reducing the distance from the text is another way poetry helps readers. Due to its brevity and quick impact, poetry is more accessible for beginners and reduces the fear of reading long texts.”

The poet emphasized: “Strengthening the pleasure of reading is made possible by this, as music and imagination in poetry create a unique delight; a pleasant feeling that can be the first spark for a love of books. As another aid, we can mention habit formation and culturalization; a short poem can be read in a few minutes, turning this act into a daily cultural habit.”

She stated that one can bridge to literature through poetry: “Interest in poetry often leads an individual towards understanding the poet, style, and literary history, guiding them to study books in this field, including literary history, criticism, biography, and then fiction.”

The 33rd Iran’s Book Week, with the slogan “Let’s Read for Iran,” will be held from November 14th to 20th (2025).