With roots of love for the future: Public speaks of the Festival

With roots of love for the future: People speaks of the Festival

Some impressions by the public of International XX Poetry Festival of Medellin
Video: Producciones El Retorno

During the XIX International Poetry Festival of Medellín, more than two thousand young people present in the recitals answered a survey that looked for a comprehesion of the organizers as well as the public of the relation of poetry with the traditional proposal of the Prometeo Review. The diversity and vitality of the answers are amazing, and fully express the poetic disposition of the city. So much poetic beauty and knowledge of the public serenely contrasts with the contemptuous attitude of some poets, academics and slanderers in this country, who foolishly think that our young people do not understand or identify themselves with the essence of this vital project for the construction of a country for life, for beauty and the dignity of human beings in our land.

In one word, what is poetry for you?

—Life (Leidy Cadavid, student, 22)
—Substance (Leonardo Jesús, student, 18)
—Miracle (Álvaro Correa, student, 21)
—Fire (Ignacio González, woodworker, 45)
—Silence (Sara Catalina Ramírez, student, 19)
—Creation (Isabel Quiroz, social worker, 34)
—The call (Andrea Serna, artist, 25)
—Imagination (Elizabeth Álvarez, student, 18)
—Resistance (Adriana Hurtado, journalist and lawyer, 44)
—Mirror (Adrián González, student, 22)
—Immensity (Jenny Ledesma, information technician, 37)
—A vital option (José Jesús Gómez, agronomist, 53)
—Nature (Luz Andrea Moreno, student, 21)
—Construction (Eduardo Sánchez, student, 24)
—Experience (William Rouge, university professor, 30)
—Sublime (Uriel Suaza, university professor, 41)
—Freedom (Julián Andrés Herrera, student, 17)
—Tremor (Nubia Amparo Mesa, university professor, 48)
—Oxygen (Beatriz Peña, lawyer, 44)
—Impossible (César Cuadros, student, 24)
—Love (Diego Cossio, student, 20)
—Thought (Felipe Hincapié, self-employed, 28)
—Ecstasy (Carolina Jaramillo, student, 18)
—Embrace (Farid Villegas, teacher, 41)
—Song (Daniela Londoño, student, 18)
—Profundity (Jonatan Ruiz, student, 19)
—Contemplation (Raquel Mendoza, teacher, 45)
—Torrent (Nicolás Gallego, teacher, 27)
—Art of language (Natalia Puertas, musician, 24)
—Harmony (Natalia Marín, student, 19)
—Vortex (Hernán Darío Rodas, teacher, 44)
—Sweet (Karen Castañeda, topographer, 25)
—Life-saber (Milena Jaramillo, journalist, 29)
—Eternity (Deisy Usuga), student, 25)
—Education (Juan Camilo Escobar, lawyer, 28)
—Relief (Sandra Múnera, student, 21)
—Music (Carolina Mateus, student, 16)
—Oasis (Jaime Alzate, architect, 56)
—Truth (Diego Jaramillo, student, 22
—Exit (Diego Molina, botanist, 28)
—Confession (Rodrigo Jiménez, teacher, 44)
—Greatness (Juan Esteban Hernández, student, 16)
—Nourishment (Sandra Liliana Mejía, student, 28)
—Spirit (Cindy Carolina, student, 21)
—Praxis (Lina Méndez, waitress, 19)
—Essence (Diego Guerra, student, 21)
—Spark (Catalina Gil, student, 20)
—Struggle (Luis F. Cadavid, lawyer, 42)
—Elation (Ricardo Vera, lawyer, 58)
—Intimacy (Eduardo Pereira, information technician, 34)
—The Art of Dreaming (Helí Posada, student, 25)
—Creation (Miguel Arango, student, 21)
—Motor (Hugo Valencia, student, 32)
—Liberation (Alejandra Zapata, student, 20)
—Melody (Carlos Julio Suárez, taxi driver, 45)
—Transcendence (Victor K, student, 28)
—Rhythm (Edgar David, engineer, 38)
—Sensations (Santiago Franco, student, 19)
—Breath (José Madrigal, student, 26)
—Pleasure (Álvaro Pérez, student, 20)
—Shelter (Carolina Jaramillo, student, 28)
—Wisdom (Víctor Higuita, student, 24)
—Reality (Diego David Flórez, student, 22)
—Sense (Sebastián Pérez, student, 20)
—Freedom of the soul (Ángela María Escobar, information technician, 39)
—Meditation (Ana Ruby Rodríguez, student, 19)
—Trip (Alejandra Rodríguez, student, 21)
—New air (Yuri Bibiana Correa, student, 20)
—Philosophy (Sofía Reyes, architect, 51)
—Libido (Andrés Marín, barman, 19)
—It cannot be defined (Ivonne, student, 19)
—Rapture (David Carvajal, student, 19)
—Beauty (Daniela Tobón, student, 16)
—My life (Oliver Arknus, student, 28)
—Utopia (Yuliana Betancur, student, 17)
—Dialectics (Alejandra, student, 18)
—Feedback (Jaime Moreno, student, 25)
—Genius (Lina Mercedes Castañeda, student, 18)
—Force of inspiration (Manuela, student, 17)

Why is poetry necessary?

Photo: FR

—Because it is the verb, the living word that extinguishes silence and makes real the utopia of freedom. (Juan David Ríos, student, 28)
—To refresh the souls and keep alive the sensibility to what is more human in humans. (Isabel Quiroz, social worker, 34)
—It teaches us to see and to say what we are and will be, what we were and will be no longer. (Fernando Duque, student, 19)
—Because it is the cry of love that is torn from the wounds of a people that cries. (Miguel Ángel Ramírez, journalist, 19)
—Because when the soul of society is dying, poetry revives it. (Isabel López, artist, 26)
—It is the synthesis of the noblest thoughts of humanity, it is the way. (Ignacio González, cabinet maker, 45)
—Catalyst facing the global crisis and individualism. (José Jesús Hoyos, agronomist, 53)
—Because we can say the word that protects the possible moment in the open. (Andrea Serna, artist, 25)
—Because it is the unexpected marvelous (Zatria Vallejo, student, 20)
—It constructs the world and makes it habitable (Sandra Mazo, political scientist, 27)
—It names the unnameable, it is cathartic, it liberates the cry. (Ana Carolina Herrera,  student, 23)
—With it one is born and dies, one creates, and what is lifeless surrenders and is made sensible. (Claudia Patricia Carmona, estudiante, 35)
—Because society is consumed in materialism and forgets the true being. (Yolima Vargas, industrial engineer, 29)
—To make possible the impossible, maintain the dream and express ourselves in the midst of violence. (Sonia Hernández, teacher, 38)
—To withstand the nightmare of the country in which we live. (Irene Gil, teacher, 50)
—Because it transforms the world. (Omar Gallo, runs a workshop, 49)
—Because you get to know the world through language (Alberto Piedrahita, worker, 22)
—To breathe other airs. (Sara Catalina Ramírez, student, 19)
—A world without poetry is a soulless world. (Carlos Mario Giraldo, musician, 20)
—Because it is a language and a feeling that brings peoples together. (Mariluz Peláez, lawyer, 54)
—Because it is the essential voice of humanity. (William Rouge, university professor, 30)
—It allows one to express the inexpressible. (Jorge Victoria, student, 18)
—It is the only way to exorcise so much barbarity. (Julián Camino, worker, 44).
—It is the greatest expression of existence through song. (Daniel González, student, 25)
—It is water for the thirsty. (Catalina Gil, student, 20)
—It is the word given life. (María Fernanda Cerón, assistant professor, 32)
—It is an elixir for the spirit and makes us equal. (Alba Rodríguez, sociologist, 47)
—Without poetry life would be cold and empty. (María Isabel González, student, 18)
—Because it gives back to the city hope, humanity and solidarity. (Luz Stella Vélez, civil engineer, 48)
—Because it is the soul of life. (Héctor Bedoya, university professor, 30)
—It is the greatest comfort of the desperate. (Lina María Gómez, writer, 39)
—Because it liberates the soul and allows me to communicate in another way with other universes. (Julián Esteban Madrid, student, 22)
—Because it names us and justifies us in the cosmos. (Jairo Peláez, artist, 42)
—Because it allows us to express with other forms of language what was, what was not and what will be. (Zorayda Osorio, bioengineer, 28)
—Because it supports the dream and the happiness of a people, even in moments of crisis. (Sandra Liliana Mejía, student, 28)
—Because it is a balsam that soothes the wounds of injustice and violence. (Ruth Arteaga, teacher, 50)
—It makes us go beyond what is tangible in the world. (Alejandra Rodríguez, student, 21)
—It synthesizes the perception of the world. (Rodrigo Osorio, textile mechanic, 38)
—It allows the free expression, solidarity and evolution and it is the threshold of peace and love. (Julián Andrés Herrera, student, 17)
—It makes possible the expression of joy and sadness, of peace and war, in a human and calm way. (Ángela María Escobar, information technician, 39)
—It invigorates, heals, pacifies, assembles, liberates, saves. (Alexander Vargas, student, 26)
—It helps us to know reality through the different imaginaries. (Andrés Agudelo, student, 19)
—It opens the conscience of a people swamped in ignorance. (Ramiro Moreno, painter, 49)
—Because through poetry a world good to live in can be constructed. (William Puerta, worker, 40)
—Because it opens the minds of the people, inspires and helps it to formulate ideas in reality. (Diana Marcela Mejía, student, 21)
—In poetry we can express ourselves without any restriction (Paula Restrepo, student, 19)
—It is an authentic expression of the people. Without art there is no life. (Adriana Hurtado, lawyer and journalist, 44)
—It exorcises our ghosts. (Nubia Barros, student, 30)
—It is a form of living our existence. (Leidy Cadavid, student, 22)
—Without poetry the soul could not express itself. (Natalia Marín, student, 19)
—It is one of the subtlest ways to transform our own thought. Sara Marín, student, 20)
—It allows us to say things that cannot be said aloud. (Juan Esteban Agudelo, student, 18)
—It is the oxygen of imagination. (Gustavo Patíño, university professor, 62)
—It allows us to share the dream of what we are and to celebrate together all that we have. (Abigail Vallejo, health information expert, 55)
—Because it is the salt of the spirit. (Luis F. Cadavid, lawyer, 42)
—Without poetry we would be mad robots who could only vociferate and die. (Carlos Mario Pimienta, theater instructor, 35)
—It allows us to make visible worlds beyond ours. (Claudia Suescún, university professor, 28)
—To change the real world ravaged by sadness. (Catalina Älvarez, student, 23)
—It is an expression of resistance and a manifestation of freedom and revolution of the soul. (Eliana Bedoya, student, 22)
—It is a tool and an alternative of change. (Alejandro Zapata, 20)
—Because poetry makes human beings take out what is enclosed in the soul and makes us free. (María Liced Mesa, student, 24)
—Poetry is the other part of yourself, to express what we feel and think. (Geraldine Restrepo, student, 16)
—The word is the motor that gives us the hope of a real change. (Hugo Valencia, student, 32)
—Because it takes people out of the earthly life. (Hernán Pineda, engineer, 59)
—It is an essential part of humanity. (Víctor Higuita, student, 24)
—To teach us to love. (Toribio Girón, lawyer, 50)
—Because it is the perfume of existence. (Melissa Góez, student, 18)
—Because it is life itself and the antidote against the poisons of the present. (Natalia Aristizábal, student, 24)
—It allows us to represent in a serene and apprehensible way human nature, its perception. (Jesús Arley Valencia, student, 21)
—I listen, I recognize, I feel myself. (Lubby Baena, student, 24)
—I it is form of expressing feelings of liberation. (Ivonne, student, 17)
—Because it is inherent in us, a way of feeling we are human. (Diego Guerra, student, 21)
—In order not to lose the unity with nature and the world. (Miguel Ángel Morales, artist, 34)
—It is a breath for the spirit. (Emerson Sepúlveda, student, 27)
—It opens the way for our transformation. (Sandra Milena Rúa, student, 21)
—Because it penetrates and rediscovers, naming what otherwise could not be named. (Gilberto Rodríguez, lawyer, 53)
—Because it liberates and finds our being. (Juan Salazar, student, 24)
—To create a language of happiness. (Ana María Vélez, student, 17)
—Without poetry, language would only be words. (Juan Camilo Ortiz, student, 21)
—Because it is the dialectic way of love saturating reason. (Sergio Martínez, student, 21)
—Because it is the nourishment of the spirit that allows us to follow the route of pure harmony. (Ricardo Vera, lawyer, 42)
—Because it talks symbolically of what we are and do not want to be. (Juan Andisapal, sociologist, 42)
—It expresses the voice, dreams and fears of multitudes. (Sara Naranjo, student, 20)
—It awakens capabilities and thoughts beyond the passage through this world. (Mariana Sánchez, student, 16
—Because it is the most beautiful mechanism human beings have for their catharsis. (Gloria Helena Ruiz, lawyer, 50)
—Because poetry is astonishment, beauty, truth. (Yolima Espinosa, student, 24)
—Because it manifest the personal sense of every human being. (Jonatan Ruiz, student, 19)
—Because it gives hope to individual and collective life. (Estella Restrepo, engineer,  45)
—It makes us great and strong in our lives. (Alejandro Uribe, student, 17)
—Because poetry is nourishment and oxygen. (Catalina Bedoya, student, 19)
—It identifies the spirit of every people. (Zacharuna Muny, sociologist, 25)
—It renews the soul and thought, it shakes the heart to liberate the spirit. (Freddy Taborda, student, 24)
—Because it is a manifestation of the spirit that summons us to the encounter with our own reality. (José Fernando Suárez, musician and advertiser, 45)
—Because it gives us back and reaffirms hope. (Beatriz Peña, lawyer, 54)
—Because it is the word made art and love of infinity. (Julián Esteban Londoño, student, 19)
—Because in its absence we would inevitably drown. (Santiago Noriega, student, 19)
—Poetry nourishes peoples and gives them hope. (Aniela Gil, student, 17)
—It is part of life itself, it awakens fibers in human beings. (Isabel Cristina Carvajal, painter, 27 )
—It heals, inspires, exorcises, liberates exalts, gives life. (Andrés Armando Calle, student, 27)
—Because it is transparency and the drowned cry of the soul. (Camila Cano, student, 219
—It is the satisfaction of emptiness that produces contemplation. (David Carvajal, student, 20)
—It makes us feel as persons, it moves us, it gladdens us. (Camilo Quintero, student, 20)
—It is the way toward understanding. (Wilson Muriel, student, 19)
—It is like music, it connects our souls. (Melissa Muñoz, student, 21)
—It shows the reality of life, hidden feelings in a shrouded mind. (Sandra Yepes, student, 20)
—Because it is the dance of the word and when people don’t dance they become violent. (Alexis, 23)
—It gives sense to life and life to imagination. (Yuliana Betancur, student, 17)
—Because it is a song of freedom for whomever listens to it. (Santiago Marín, student, 16)
—Because it is the recognition of being. (Boris Zapata, student, 18)
—Because it opens our mind to new worlds. (Adriana Urrea, student, 19)
—Because it gives strength to live. It is nice to know the world without going over it, it is nice to listen to what comes from the heart of others. (Clara Sofía Cortés, student, 16)
—It reminds us that we are really human beings. (Harley Durango, student, 23)
—It is part of the cultural identity of the city. (Manuela, student, 17)
—It shows the most sublime feelings of human beings. (Mayde Calderón, student, 18)
—It enlivens and awakens our sensibility in a hard and cruel world. (Bayron Trujillo, student, 21)
—Because it is way to travel to one’s inner being, to know oneself, to meditate. (Ana Ruby Rodríguez, student, 19)
—It allows us to reveal secrets and hidden feelings. (Juan Esteban Posada, student, 19)
—To be a countepart. (Juliana Valencia, student, 23)

What does the International Poetry Festival mean for you?

Photo: FR

—An outburst (Mariana Sánchez, student 16)
—Ambrosia (César Cuadros, student 24)
—Illumination (Santiago Marín, student 16)
—It is a house for everyone. (Carolina Jaramillo, student, 18)
—Universality (Karen Castañeda, topographer, 25)
—Energy (Leidy Cadavid, student, 22)
—The sea (Milena Jaramillo journalist, 29)
—Fascination (Héctor Piedrahita, maintenance mechanic, 45)
—It is the rebirth of what society is killing. (Oliver Arknus, student, 28)
—Collective catharsis (Sara Marín, student, 20)
—A hive (Ignacio González, woodworker, 45)
—The vitality of the city. (Alexander Vargas, student, 26)
—Eon (Gloria Helena Ruiz, lawyer, 50)
—Revelation (Catherine Sánchez, student, 19
—It is hope, history, energy (Ana María Arenas, teacher, 49)
—Display of kindness (William Puerta, worker,  40)
—It is the encounter of the world and its culture to listen to ourselves. (Uriel Henao, engineer, 59)
—Happiness (Laura Yesenia Montoya, student, 19)
—Longevity (Santiago Rico, student, 17)
—Spirit (Luz Marina Covaleda, university professor, 37)
—Marvel and courage (Sonia María Hernández, teacher, 38)
—Reconciliation (Luz Marina Monroy, music teacher, 45)
—Proclaimer of souls (Adonaí Hoyos, university professor, 39)
—Persistance (Nelson Rivera, writer, 28)
—Calm (Zorayda Osorio, bioengineer, 28)
—Resurrection (Julieth Leal teacher, 40)
—Unity (María, lawyer, 30)
—Palpitation (Juan Carlos Osorio, technologist, 32)
—An encounter with the language of gods. (Catalina López, university professor, 28)
—A collective dream (Fabio Medina, professor, 38)
—Rain of feelings and emotions (Juan Esteban Agudelo, student, 18)
—Collective creation (Ricardo Gómez, musician and translator)
—Growth (Daniela Londoño, student, 18)
—A means to travel (Alejandra Rodríguez, student, 21)
—Union of cultures (Diego Giraldo, technologist, 26)
—Marvelous breath (Rubiela Llano, biologist, 50)
—Pure life (Jairo Peláez, artist, 42)
—Encounter with life and art (Natalia Puerta, musician, 24)
—Miracle (Nubia Barros, student 30)
—Exaltation of the word (Adriana Hurtado, journalist and lawyer, 44)
—A space that allows us to approch beauty. (Johana Garzón, student, 21)
—Multiplicity (Elizabeth Álvares, student, 18)
—Poetic song (Natalia, musician, 45)
—Fundamental game (Isabel Cristina Carvajal, painter, 27)
—Transformation (Ramiro Moreno, painter, 49)
—Lifesaver for the anguish of sterile days. (Hernán Darío Rodas, university professor, 44)
—It is the place where all undress and are reflected. (Carlos Mauricio Pimienta, theater instructor, 35)
—Brotherhood (Miguel Ángel Morales, artist, 34)
—Delight (Samuel Henao, student, 18)
—Generation (Shirley Ortiz, worker, 29)
—Growth (Cindy Carolina, student, 21)
—Network (Andrés Naranjo, journalist, 33)
—Necessary (Lina Méndez, waitress, 19)
—New airs (Manuela Gómez, studient, 19)
—Evolution (Julián Andrés Herrera, studient, 17)
—Thought in many voices. (Yerlis Arango, student, 19)
—It revives dormant thought (Daniela Bolívar, student, 18)
—Hope (Hugo Valencia, student, 32)
—Interaction (Yazmín del Mar, student, 29)
—Marvelous (Henry Rios, community leader, 30)
—Space of peace, (Ángela María Escobar, information technician, 39)
—Communion (Andrea Ramírez, student, 19
—Humanity (Laura Tejada, student, 19)
—Purest love and life (Irene Gil, university professor, 50)
—Beauty (Adriana Correa, student, 29)
—Privilege (Diana Álvarez, student, 23)
—World union of souls (Sandra Milena Gómez, sanitary engineer, 29)
—Happiness (Clara Sofía Cortés, student, 16)
—Fraternity (Sandra Múnera, student, 21)
—A channel of intercultural thought and expression. (Melissa Muñoz, student, 21)
—Paradise (Carolina Jaramillo, student, 18)
—The soul of the city (Beatriz Naranjo, student, 25)
—A dream (Juan Esteban Hernández, student, 16)
—Peace (Mariluz Peláez, architect, 54)
—Knowledge (Felipe Posada, student, 24)
—Daring (Diana Bedoya, student, 22)
—A living library (Carlos Ortega, 24)
—Collectivity (María Teresa Agudelo, librarian assistant, 31)
—Diversity (Yazmín David, student, 29)
—Reflection (Luisa Fernanda Zapata, student, 16)
—Joy (Leila Tamayo, lawyer, 38)
—Interaction (Jorge Peláez, student, 23)
—Richness (Juan Fernando García, musician, 20)
—Healing (Andrés Armando Calle, student, 27)
—Celebration (Diego Guerra, student, 21)
—Life, passion hope (Luz Stella Vélez, civil engineer, 48)
—The world (Daniela Zapata, student, 19)
—Renewal, movement (Yolima Espinosa, student, 24)
—Orgasm (Carlos Mario Patiño, student, 20)
—To change the world (Deisy Úsuga, student, 25)
—Beautiful (Diego Mauricio Escobar, technician, 39)
—Brilliant (Susana Toro, designer, 19)
—A feast (Emerson Sepúlveda, student, 27)
—Union (Víctor K., student, 28)
—The best of the city (Eliana Carmona, student, 21)
—Awakening (Mirlena Martínez, journalist, 31)
—Integration (José Daniel Cárdenas, student, 25)
—Inciting (Duber Alezander Galvis, student, 22)
—Multiplicity (Andrés Correa, university professor, 52)
—Freedom of expression (Sandra Ospina, student, 27)
—Inclusion (Melany Colorado, student, 26)
—Carnival (Andrés Marín, barman, 19)
—A window to heaven (Lorenzo Mejía, biologist, 46)
—Fundamental (Diego David Flórez, student, 22)
—Identity (Jorge Espina, student, 21)
—Understanding (Ivonne, student, 17)
—Progress (Rafael Mesa, engineer, 60)
—The most beautiful in Medellín (Beatriz Peña, lawyer, 54)
—The balsam to soothe every pain. (Damaris Londoño, student, 28)
—Exceptional (Sebastián Muñoz, student, 20)
—A meeting of a thousand expressions and cultures (Lina Marcela Henao, student, 22)
—Peace (Wilson Muriel, student, 19)
—A place to expand poetry (William Palacios, student, 19)
—World connection (Sandra Yepes, student, 20)
—A perfume (Julián Arboleda, student, 18)
—Freedom (Ricardo Vera, lawyer, 58)
—Universe (Boris Zapata, student, 18)
—A work of art (Julie Ortiz, student, 20)
—Interrelationship (Ana Ruby Rodríguez, student, 19)
—Clamor (Juan Esteban Posada, student, 19)

In what way can poetry change the life of the city?

Fotografía: FR

—Directing our eyes toward beauty. (Gloria Franco, student, 23)
—Through its tolerant, solidary and worthy language. (Farid Villegas, university professor, 41)
—The city bears change when the essential is shown. (Lina Marcela Suárez, student, 16)
—Forming more sensible and human men and women. (José Jesús Hoyos, agronomical engineer, 53)
—Art and culture go hand in hand with peace. (Eduardo Pereira, information technician, 34)
—To listen to so many voices increases tolerance. (Diana Álvarez, student, 23)
—Poetry gives power to the word of the speaker and of his or her listeners. (Héctor Piedrahita, maintenance mechanic, 45)
—Inspiring the flame of fraternity. (Claudia Suescún, university professor, 28)
—In fact each Festival changes it: brotherhood, solidarity,  dream. (Gustavo Patiño, university professor, 62)
—Making it more sensible and humanizing it. (Andrés Agudelo, student, 19)
—Generating other less violent representations of the world. (Isabel Quiroz, social worker, 34)
—Developing imagination, thought and intelligence. (William Puerta, worker, 40)
—Educating for peace, exchanging blows by words, arms by voices. (Miguel Ángel Ramírez, journalist, 19)
—Because it is impossible to silence souls that search and talk to one another, that find themselves. (Adonaí Hoyos, university professor, 39)
—Because it substracts and overwhelms the soul to the point of calcining the marrow in one word. (Ramón Zapata, university professor, 33)
—Poetry is the counterweight of the evil side of this city. (Diego Molina, botanist, 28)
—It gives spiritual and mental peace to the city. (Natalia Marín, student, 19)
—Poetry and art are the only alternative to vanquish violence (Ruth Ortega, teacher, 50)
—I don’t think that anyone who loves poetry can be violent. (Edgar David, engineer, 38)
—If persons used more language than weapons. (Manuela Gómez, student, 19)
—Inspiring it, making it art. (Sara Catalina Ramírez, student, 19)
—Making poetry reach the heart of the people. (Carolina Mateus, student, 16)
—Creating identity, helping to understand how human, too human we are. (Alba Rodríguez, sociologist, 47)
—Opening the doors to another reality with superhuman words. (Carlos M. Giraldo, musician, 20)
—Giving it identity. (Lubby Baena, student, 24)
—Enlivening the spirit. (Gilberto Rodríguez, lawyer, 53)
—Generating processes of critical conscience and thought. (Eliana Bedoya, student, 22)
—Audiences full of peace and culture: It has already changed it. (Diego Duque Pineda, student, 22)
—Making us free. (Hugo Valencia, student, 32)
—Making human life beautiful and exalting the spirit. (Natalia Puerta, musician, 24)
—Through the realization of the humanism contained in poetry. (Sergio Martínez, student, 21)
—It disarms the spirit. (Álvaro Baena, lawyer, 50)
—It opens the imagination to reach unknown worlds. (Laura Martínez, student, 19)
—Through the poems: each poem is mysteriously different, mysteriously attractive. (Mariana Sánchez, student, 16)
—By giving the city the opportunity to express what it wants. (Paola Vargas, student, 19)
—If people choose poetry instead of weapons. (Diego Cano, student, 20)
—As a form of expression different from violence (Juan Camilo Escobar, lawyer, 28)
—When the Festival comes to the city, it transforms it totally. (Eliana Carmona, student, 21)
—Creating new forms of seeing, understanding and transforming life. (Luz Andrea Moreno, student, 21)
—Involving the children and young people of the city. (Gloria Upegui, architect,  56)
—Making people more receptive and tolerant (Diana Marcela Mejía, student, 22)
—Life is a construction from the word. (Eduardo Sánchez, student, 24)
—Looking beyond what the eyes can see. (Elizabeth Álvarez, student, 18)
—Turning terror into love, conflict into dialogue. (Luz Marina Covaleda, university professor, 37)
—Because it is rebellion in this absurd flock. (Álvaro Lopera, university professor, 54)
—Bringing peace and culture. (Víctor Espitia, student, 17)
—With its massive summons to fraternity. (Ricardo Vera, lawyer, 42)
—Strengthening the spirits for peace. (Omar Gallo, runs a workshop, 49)
—It gives us tools to confront, listen to, transform ourselves. (Isabel Cristina Toro, student, 25)
—Helping us to open our eyes to a different humanity. (Fernando Duque, student, 19)
—Forming and transforming to evolve. (Melany Colorado, student, 26)
—Sensitizing the hard headed. (Fredy Taborda, student, 24)
—Because it makes us feel free, and this freedom transforms us. (Carolina Luján, student, 24)
—Resisting the assaults against freedom of thought and creation. (Erika Hernández, student, 24)
—Changing the perception of persons to achieve a more plural society. (José Daniel Corredor, lawyer, 47)
—Structuring ourselves as part of the identity of our people. (Diana Bedoya, student, 22)
—Creating a city of peace and culture. (Zarina Andrea, student, 26)
—Braking the frontiers of xenophobia, fear and ignorance, through the creative word. (Sebastián Heredia, student, 19)
—It makes us brothers in spirit. (Olga Córdoba, anthropologist, 55)
—It fosters social change. (Luis F. Cadavid, lawyer, 42)
—Making us more conscious of others and increasing our empathy. (David Carvajal, student, 19)
—Through interiorization and a sense of belonging. (Camilo Quintero, student, 20)
—Enhancing thoughts and beliefs. (Isabel López, artista, 26)
—Making it massive and spreading it. (Hernán Pineda, engineer, 59)
—Through changing the ideals.(Wilson Muriel, student, 19)
—Because it an impulse of life, and it protects it, alloys it, makes it sacred. (Alexis, student, 23)
—Poetry is a song that humanizes the soul. (Santiago Marín, student, 16)
—Through harmony, love and courage. (Diana Andrea Álvarez, student, 17)
—Transforming us into dreaming beings. (Helí Posada, student, 25)
—Aesthetics-practice-nostalgia-mind. (Jaime Moreno, student, 25)
—People are enraptured by the thousand flavors of poetry. (Ana Milena Posada, student, 16)
—It can kindle love that has been lost to such great extent. (Byron Trujillo, student, 21)
—Generating conscience of other realities. (Juan Esteban Posada, student, 19)
—Because it opens doors to a culture of open minds. (Ana Ruby Rodríguez, student, 19)
—It can transform it spiritually. (Verónica González, student, 18)
—Making people aware of tolerance. (María, lawyer, 30)