Alfaaz was honored to curate poetry in celebration of World Oceans Day, which took place on June 8th, 2025 in Nice, France.

Writers submitted their pieces addressing the 2025 theme: Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us. A seemingly endless source of sustenance, potential, wisdom, and awe. However, in this time of interlocking crises, humanity has grown increasingly isolated from the natural world and siloed in our self-preservation; and there is no clearer evidence of our selfish and short-sighted actions than in the ocean’s dire state. Poetry and the arts are a critical medium to prompt an emotional connection to such challenges, which ultimately hope to inspire action.

Below are the pieces that were selected to be featured on the day. These pieces underscored humanity's inherent connection to the ocean and support a cultural shift in understanding that positions earth as an ocean planet.

Congratulations to this year’s featured poets!

Andy Rapista, Philippines for Electric and AI Hunger, Azure Grief

Aprille Zammit, Malta for Held

Kelsey Cohen, United States for Siren’s Falsetto

Krystal Juffa, Samoa for 11,034m

Payton Georgiana, United States for Muddied Reflection

Renu Jain, United States for वसुंधरा

Saif Khan, Georgia for A Prayer Water Denied.

Sakurako Nagaiwa, Japan for 深海へ羽ばたけ(Fly up into the deep ocean)

Tracy Jones, United States for The Specters of Mariana Trench

Uzma Said, Malaysia for to love is to hope