The Odesa – UNESCO City of Literature Office continues to introduce readers to the project “Poetry in Cities of Literature.”
Planned for over a year, the project showcases examples of contemporary poetry from sister cities within the UNESCO Cities of Literature network.
The latest installment of the poetry series focuses on the German city of Heidelberg, which celebrated the 10th anniversary of its UNESCO City of Literature status last year.
Beyond promoting literary art, the initiative highlights the crucial support offered by UNESCO Cities of Literature: from festival invitations and translation assistance to artist residencies. These connections enable Ukrainian authors to cross borders, reach new audiences, and preserve their creative voices on the global stage. At its core, “Poetry in Cities of Literature” emphasizes mutual cultural enrichment, fostering an open exchange where books, ideas, and traditions travel freely, inspiring and uniting people worldwide.
Gerhild Michel
Born in Berlin, raised in Heidelberg. Language has always been my medium, first as an actress on various German stages, later as a teacher and poet. I marvel and write. And search for words to get closer to the mystery of life. Since 2000, several volumes of poetry have been published, for example at ATHENA–Verlag: 2012 Blätter einer Rose (Leaves of a Rose), poems, Athena Verlag, 2016 Alles in den Augen (Everything in the Eyes), poems, Athena Verlag, 2021 Singen über den Dächern (Singing Above the Roofs), poems, Athena Verlag.
We invite you to listen to Gerhild on YouTube channel.
Petals of a rose (Blätter einer Rose)
Everytime
when I
in my kitchen
come
lies
one petal rose more
on the stone floor
petal after petal
hourglass
of a rose
The project was created by the Odesa UNESCO City of Literature and being implemented with funds raised by Reykjavik City of Literature Reykjavík Bókmenntaborg UNESCO as part of the readings initiated by Milano City of Literature “Not Just Words” (Reading for Odesa) on February 24, 2024.
