Paris "Poetry" Market
Strolling through the poetry market—the poet is right beside you.
Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Art and humanities are the spiritual sustenance of our lives. In the art capital of Paris, there are all kinds of markets; neither spirit nor material goods are lacking. The Paris Poetry Market is a rare example, held annually in early June on fine days at the St Sulpice Square in the Latin Quarter. This year marks its 36th edition. The poetry market gathers poets, publishers, poetry critics, and arts enthusiasts to share and exchange ideas, serving as a platform for selling French poetry, promoting contemporary French poetry, and encouraging poetic creation.
The poetry conference aims to evaluate the state of French and contemporary poetry. Under the theme of "Poetry's Visibility," the event features poetry readings and roundtable discussions among poets. Art is an essential part of Parisians' lives; it is hard to imagine how life would be lived without "poetry."