Sharjah24: A noted author for young people and a literature professor spoke at length about the magic of contemporary children's poetry and how to keep it ‘fresh’ during a panel discussion at the ongoing 15th annual Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF).

The hour-long conversation moderated by journalist Mania Suwaid saw poet and editor Shobha Tharoor and academician Dr Djellouli Laid discuss the various characteristics of poems written for today’s children and their existing standards.

Dr Laid, who teaches Arabic literature for Children at University Kasdi Merbah in Ouargla, Algeria, emphasised the importance of simplicity and imagination in children's poetry. "Children's poetry should be accessible and relatable," said the Algerian professor. "It should stimulate the imagination and encourage young readers to explore the world around them."

He then spoke about how poetry is currently fighting a battle of its own. “Commercially speaking, prose is often more profitable to produce than poetry. That’s unfortunate. The world today is facing many crises including wars and other threats, and I feel, there is no solution to this except poetry. Poetry is what we need to resort to, and we must encourage the publishing industry to bring more children’s poetry out in the world.”

Meanwhile, Tharoor, an accomplished children's author, highlighted the role of themes and motifs in children's poetry. "Themes such as friendship, nature and imagination resonate with young readers," explained Tharoor. "Children's poetry should address universal themes in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking."

“If we continue to remain engaged with children, we will have long-term readers,” she summarised. “The more you read poetry, the more they will be published.”

“Books [and poetry] are springboards for discussion. As children, you are read to, and then when you grow up and read yourself, you start thinking about issues around you – about animal safety, gender equality, planet conservation for example,” she added while referring to her book Parvati the Elephant’s Very Important Day where a female elephant who doesn’t have tusks, ends up playing a very important role in a temple in India. 

“We just have to keep writing poetry and keep hoping they grow up and continue reading. We are part of a shared world. The world is hurting and we must not give up. We must try to heal it by writing and popularising poetry.”

Throughout the discussion, the panellists delved into various aspects of children's poetry, including language, rhythm, and imagery. They also explored the importance of diversity and representation in children's literature, ensuring that young readers from all backgrounds see themselves reflected in the stories and poems they read.