For the 26th ILB, we have once again invited all students in grades 3 through 12 to participate in the poetry contest based on the festival’s theme! The theme of the 26th ILB is:
You are born with your face turned everywhere
The motto, chosen by ILB guest curator Jeet Thayil, an Indian author, reminds us that we come into the world without fixed labels or prejudices. The quote comes from the Upanishads, the central collection of texts in Hinduism. It can be read as an invitation to maintain – or rediscover – an open-minded outlook: to stay curious, consider different perspectives, and understand diversity as a strength.
We received numerous submissions that explored the festival’s theme from a wide variety of perspectives, with linguistic sensitivity and great creativity. We are pleased to honor the winners in three age groups here. They will each receive free admission for themselves and their entire school class to a Young Program reading.
Here are the Award-Winning Poems
Age Group I – Grades 3-6
»Gegen Vorurteile« by Jonas and Mael
Age Group II – Grades 7-9
»The ballad of a former Russian child« by Nelli Koroleva
Age Group III – Grades 10-12
»Blindness« by Anika Burrus