“We’re all going to die — and poems can help us live with that.” Some say you should not talk about art and poetry, but I really enjoy the passion with which Stephen Burt dissects beautiful poems. Enjoy the TED talk.
poetry
Love Came
Love came,
and became like blood in my body.
It rushed through my veins and
encircled my heart.Everywhere I looked,
I saw one thing.
Love’s name written
on my limbs,
on my left palm,
on my forehead,
on the back of my neck,
on my right big toe…Oh, my friend,
all that you see of me
is just a shell,
and the rest belongs to love.
Rumi
When Love Arrives | Valentine’s Day Special
Sarah Kay is one of my favourite spoken word performers. Watch her perform this great piece about the every changing face of love, together with her artistic partner Phil Kaye.
More about Sarah at kaysarahsera.com
A Feminist anthem
I like Mark Grist. For me he – former English Teacher – is one of the faces of the popularisation of poetry and Spoken Word. 2 years ago I stumbled upon this fantastic poem on attraction named ‘girls who read’. Totally captures my opinion.
Recently Mark made an official video for this poem – which is great. I prefer the original though.
“So, what do you go for in a girl?”
He crows, lifting a lager to his lips
Gestures where his mate sits
Downs his glass
“He prefers tits
I prefer ass.
What do you go for in a girl?” Lees verder
Invictus
This blog could easily have been named ‘Invictus’ since it’s a poem I really like. It gives me strength in the face of despair.
In addition this was the poem that gave Nelson Mandela -whom I find an inspiring figure- strength during his 27 years in prison.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
This is a clip from the movie with the same name, in which Morgan Freeman reads the poem.
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