Poetry

Alright, so I'm going to be talking about poetry. Poetry. Poetry. Poetry. 

Don't worry, this won't be a boring long-winded post. I hope so.

For those of you who doesn't know yet, I actually love poetry and writes them. Not all the time, only when I get the feel of it. I started writing poems when I was in my first year of Secondary education.

Although they weren't really that good and didn't make sense(For me it didn't. Weird huh), I love them. A writer's pride eh. Haha! What was the reason behind writing all those poems? Don't laugh okay. 

Not even a sound! Okay. You know when you're a teenager and you have all that crazy feelings and whatsoever? What do they call them..OH! When your hormones are high or something, you'll get all sort of  random feelings. Anyways, as a teenager you obviously have experienced having a crush or even crushed on. When you see your crush, you get all giddy, happy, sappy and yada yada stuff. 

Well, ladies and gentleman, that's your hormones working on you. 

I was sappy enough to start writing poems about my ex crushes. Like ew. Hahaha! Ohgawd I'm disgracing myself on the internet. Way to go, Angel! 

So that was why I started writing poems. They were a lot of them. The poems! Not the ex crushes. Okay, maybe more than 5 or 6? But most of them didn't last that long.

By the way, I still have my poetry book(:

Sometime around last year, I read this book called Slammed by Colleen Hoover. This is where I discovered poetry slam. 

It sounded interesting, so I Googled it up, Youtubed it and etc. Thank God I came across that book. Because if I didn't, I wouldn't have known poetry slam and it's awesomeness.

My favorite Slam Poet(Does that sound violent in a linguistic way? Haha!) is Sarah Kay.

here are some videos of her and one or two with her friend, Phil Kaye.

The transcripts are also here. Enjoy!

The very first vid I watched. My fave too!(:

Love Letter From The Toothbrush To The Bicycle Tire

They told me that I was meant for the cleaner life,

That you would drag me through the mud,

They said that you would tread all over me,

That they could see right through you,

That you were full of hot air,

That I would always be chasing,

Always watching you disappear after sleeker models,

That it would be a vicious cycle.

But I know better,

I know about your rough edges,

And I have seen your perfect curves,

I will fit into whatever spaces you let me.

If loving you means getting dirty,

Bring on the grime!

I will leave this porcelain home behind.

I’m used to twice a day relationships,

But with you, I’ll take all the time.

And I know that we live in different worlds.

And we’re always really busy.

But in my dreams.

You spin around me so fast.

I always wake up dizzy. 

So, maybe one day,

You’ll grow tired of the road,

And roll on back to me,

And when I blink my eyes into morning,

Your smile will be the only one I see.

Aren't they just cute together? Hehe

When Love Arrives

I knew exactly what Love looked like in 7th grade

Even though I hadn’t met Love yet, if Love had wandered into my home room I would have recognized him at first glance – Love wore a hemp necklace.

I would have recognized her at first glance – Love wore a tight French braid.

Love played acoustic guitar, and knew all my favorite Beatles’ songs.

Love wasn’t afraid to ride the bus with me.

And I knew I just must be searching the wrong class room, just must be checking the wrong hallway.

She was there, I was sure of it.

If only I could find him. 

But when Love finally showed up – she had a bull cut!

He wore the same clothes everyday for a week. 

Love hated the bus.

Love didn’t know anything about the Beatles.

Instead, every time I tried to kiss Love, our teeth got in the way!!!

Love became the reason I lied to my parents. I’m going to Ben’s house.

Love had terrible rhythm on the dance floor but made sure we never miss a slow song.

Love waited by the phone because she knew if her father picked up that’d be “Hello”… “Hh..” “Hello?” “Hh…” “I guess I’d hang up.”

And Love grew.

Stretched like a trampoline.

Love changed.

Love disappeared, slowly, like baby teeth.

Loosing parts of me I thought I needed.

Love vanished.

Like an amateur magician everyone could see the trapdoor but me.

Like a flat tire – there were other places I had planned on going.

But my plan didn’t matter.

Love stayed away for years.

And when Love finally reappeared, I barely recognized him.

Love smells different now, had darker eyes.

A broader back, Love came with freckles that I didn’t recognize.

New birth mark – a softer voice.

Now there were new sleeping patterns.

New favorite books.

Love had songs that reminded him of someone else.

Songs Love didn’t like to listen to, so did I.

But we found a park bench that fit us perfectly.

We found jokes that make us laugh.

And now Love makes me fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies.

(But Love will probably finish most of them for a midnight snack.) 

Love looks great in lingerie but still likes to wear her retainer.

Love is a terrible driver, but a great navigator.

Love knows where she’s going, it just might take her two hours longer than she planned. 

Love is messier now.

Love is simple.

Love uses the word boobs in front of my parents!

Love chews too loud.

Love leaves the cap off the toothpaste.

Love uses a smiley face in her text messages.

And turns out… Love shits. 

But Love also cries;

And Love will tell you “You are beautiful”, and mean it.

Over and over again.

“You are beautiful.”

When you first wake up, “You are beautiful.”

When you’ve just been crying, “You are beautiful.”

When you don’t wanna hear it, “You are beautiful.”

When you don’t believe it, “You are beautiful.”

When nobody else will tell you, “You are beautiful.”

Love still thinks, “You are beautiful.”

But Love is not perfect and will sometimes forget.

When you need to hear it most, “You are beautiful.”

Do not forget this.

Love is not who you were expecting.

Love is not what you can predict.

Maybe Love is in New York City already asleep.

You are in California, Australia, wide awake.

Maybe Love is always in the wrong time-zone.

Maybe Love is not ready for you.

Maybe you are not ready for Love.

Maybe Love just isn’t the marrying type.

Maybe the next time you see Love is 20 years after the divorce.

Love looks older now but just as beautiful as you remember.

Maybe Love is only there for a month.

Maybe Love is there for every firework. Every birthday party. Every hospital visit.

Maybe Love stays. Maybe Love can’t. Maybe Love shouldn’t.

Love arrives exactly when Love is supposed to and Love leaves exactly when Love must.

When Love arrives, say, “Welcome. Make yourself comfortable.”

If Love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her.

Turn off the music. Listen to the quiet.

Whisper, “Thank you for stopping by.”

I LOVE THEM<3

An Origin Story

·         Sarah Kay:

It started with a sweater.

• Phil Kaye:

I was looking incredibly fly. First day of college orientation as a freshman... plus, I'm the type of guy who's always trying to make a good impression.

• Sarah:

He looked like a tool. And it's the first week of school, so I've got people to meet and things to try. I don't have time to waste on this guy loitering backstage at a talent show.

• Phil:

It started with a freshman talent show, a chance to showcase what I know about spoken word and poetry and try and get some people to notice me.

• Sarah:

It started with a technical difficulty -

• Phil:

some sort of delay -

• Sarah:

somebody's iPod track wouldn't play.

• Phil:

So I'm stuck waiting backstage when I notice this girl -

• Sarah:

and he walks over, stupid sweater and all. There was nowhere to run, backstage was too small.

• Phil:

And I'm so nervous about going onstage, I decide to strike up a conversation.

• Sarah:

Oh, sorry, I completely got ahead of myself. I totally skipped introductions. My name is Sarah Kay.

• Phil:

My name is Phil Kaye. I'm from California -

• Sarah:

born and raised in NYC.

• Phil:

Let's see, fun fact about me -

• Both:

My mom is Japanese and my dad is Jewish.

• Sarah:

Not a common combination, but I think it's kinda cute. People call me Japajew -

• Phil:

Jewpanese -

• Sarah:

Ashkenazi kamikaze.

• Phil:

And come December -

• Both:

Hanukkah and Christmas!

• Sarah:

Plus, you should taste my mother's brisket. Jan has matzah ball soup with noodles...brings my father Jeffrey to his knees.

• Phil:

It took mom and dad to raise this lanky, cock-eyed, half-breed.

• Sarah:

Well, I think that's it. My mom, my dad, and me - oh, plus my little brother. He's eighteen.

• Phil:

My little sister is a deadpan firecracker. She's only eighteen, but she keeps me on track. Her name is Sarah.

• Sarah:

My little brother's name is Phillip.

• Both:

Anyway.

• Sarah:

Where was I?

• Phil:

It started with a backstage interaction.

• Sarah:

No, it started with a backward first impression.

• Phil:

Okay, well, I'll tell you where it didn't start. It didn't start at fifth grade summer camp.

• Sarah:

That's true, it did not start at junior lifeguards. Even though we were both there.

• Phil:

Matching red bathing suits, white t-shirts, visors, and our counsellor -

• Both:

Mr. Johnson.

• Sarah:

Who probably figured that the shy girl in his morning class -

• Phil:

and the skinny kid in his afternoon class -

• Both:

were... cousins?!

• Sarah:

Probably thought we carpooled over together -

• Phil:

in between family photoshoots and fourth of July barbecues.

• Sarah:

But instead, we merely co-existed -

• Phil:

almost met but always missed it -

• Sarah:

spinning around like two sides of a coin.

• Phil:

Look!

• Both:

We've done the research!

• Sarah:

And we swear, we're not related.

• Phil:

And we've never dated.

• Both:

And we're never... EVER... going to.

• Phil:

Because what are the chances of finding someone with your last name -

• Sarah:

Japanese and Jewish with siblings called the same?

• Phil:

What are the odds of finding someone -

• Sarah:

who can finish your sentences -

• Phil:

who will let you cut in line -

• Sarah:

who knows not to just lend a hand, or an ear when you need them to give you their spine -

• Phil:

who is woman enough to be best man at your wedding -

• Sarah:

who will keep every secret, save every letter, tell you how you really look -

• Phil:

who will remember every single one of your birthdays -

• Sarah:

without checking Facebook?

• Phil:

What are the odds of finding someone who knows your poetry by heart -

• Sarah:

who won't freak out if you're hanging out and accidentally fart?

• Phil:

Yeah. If you have a date and you need to look fresh, I will let you borrow my hair products.

• Sarah:

And if you don't have a date and you need to look fresh, I will let you borrow... my cousin.

• Phil:

I will always see you for the alley-oop.

• Sarah:

I will always save you a seat.

• Phil:

I will always pick you to be my partner even though you are terrible at handball.

• Sarah:

When the fire takes all you have, my home will be your home.

• Phil:

When you are old and can no longer remember my face, I will meet you for the first time again and again.

• Sarah:

When they make fun of your accent, I will take you swimming because we all sound the same underwater.

• Phil:

When Ellis Island tries to erase your past, I will call you by your real name.

• Sarah:

When they call your number for the draft, I will enlist to fight beside you.

• Phil:

And I will march with you from Selma to Montgomery and back as many times as it takes.

• Sarah:

We will stand together against the hoses and the dogs -

• Both:

because it didn't start with us.

• Phil:

It started with Lennon and McCartney.

• Sarah:

It started with Thelma and Louise.

• Phil:

It started with Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin.

• Sarah:

Bert and Ernie!

• Phil:

Abbott and Costello!

• Sarah:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!

• Phil:

Mario and Luigi!

• Sarah:

Watson and Sherlock!

• Phil:

Pikachu and Charizard! And they could tell you what a miracle this is.

• Sarah:

They could tell you how rare this is.

• Phil:

But they could tell you how rare friendship always is.

• Sarah:

The chances are slim.

• Phil:

The cards are always stacked against you, the odds are always low.

• Both:

But I have seen the best of you, and the worst of you, and I choose both.

• Phil:

I want to share every single one of your sunshines and save some for later.

• Sarah:

I will tuck them into my pockets so I can give them back to you when the rains fall hard.

• Both:

Friend -

• Phil:

I want to be the mirror that reminds you to love yourself.

• Sarah:

I want to be air in your lungs that reminds you to breathe easy.

• Phil:

When the walls come down -

• Sarah:

when the thunder rumbles -

• Both:

when nobody else is home, hold my hand -

• Phil:

and I promise -

• Both:

I won't let go.

P.S
If the vids don't work, don't be lazy and search them up. You don't know what you're missing until you hear them!!