Sarah Kay: If I should have a
daughter ...
Click on the link
below to view a performance by spoken poetry artist Sarah Kay.
After viewing the video, choose one phrase/section that you
really like and comment on how Sarah Kay manipulates language to make the
content aesthetically pleasing. In other
words, what does she say that “moves” you and how does she say it? Think in terms of every literary device you
have every learned.
One thing you might want to focus on is how she uses
allusions (A Reference to Something Historical, Cultural, Biblical, or Mythical). An allusion is a literary device that also
appears within essays and speeches.
Because you have so many reading and writing assignments this
week, you do not need to comment on what your peers say unless you would like
to send them a message.
Your response is due by
Sunday, September 2nd at Midnight.
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay’s performance ‘If I should have a daughter’ was beautifully written and communicated. Woven throughout her words were magnificent uses of literary devices. The spoken poetry artist wrote and shared her entire speech, especially her opening poem “B”, manipulating language to create a well-crafted, aesthetically pleasing piece. Her words made me feel inspired and gave me another reason to appreciate my mother and her example. The thoughts demonstrated also reassured me that my wish to one day become a mother is a fruitful one. One thing “I know to be true” is that motherhood is the truest form of love, sacrifice, nurture, and teaching. Sarah Kay emphasized those points flawlessly.
Many devices moved me to thought. In her first poem, she continued to share that her daughter will stand with her arms raised out and palms up; building up against blisters and pains and sufferings the world can sometimes lash out at a little girl and even a grown woman. The phrase that seemed to influence me the most and was most effective was after she spoke of being disappointed but always having your mother as a reason to say thank you. She said, “… there is nothing more beautiful then the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline no matter how many times it’s sent away.” No matter how many times I may give my mother reason to not care for me, she supports me and loves me. By using this sentence full of figurative value she presented me with a cause to be thankful. Her use of metaphor edified me and also made me want to proceed in listening to what she had to say.
Respectfully,
Kekai Gonsalves
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me the most about Sarah Keys performance was when she said, "...and she's going to learn, life is going to hit you hard, in the face. It's going to wait for you to get back up just so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind kicked out of you, is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air." This metaphor is an excellent way to describe life and even the pursuit of happiness. What made this sentence stick out to me is that it is completely true and makes a lot of sense to me. There will always be road blocks and things may seem bad enough and then they get even worse. Yet you can always come out of these things, hard as they are, stronger and more appreciative. Perhaps hungrier for life its self, good and bad.
My mother and I are not on good terms at the moment, which made it easy for me to want strive to be better and eventually like the mother of Sarah Keys performance. Young as I am, I will not be becoming a mother any time soon. Still, the speech has helped me to try and be a better friend. A mother is similar to a friend because friends are supposed to always life each other up and help each other through the best and worst of times, asking nothing in return. Hopefully I am the "point B" to my companions like they are to me.
Sincerely,
Amanda Althouse
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI was left speechless at the end of this video, i lost my train of thought every time i thought about her poetry. I found Sarah Kay's video to be purely be magical and delightful. My Favorite line or the line that moved me was not one but two lines, "when you open your hands to catch and you only end up with blisters and bruises, When you step out of the phone booth and try to fly and the very people you want to save are standing on your cape". Also i found this one just mystifying and it sort of gave me a smaller scale epiphany when i heard it. "When your boots fill with rain, and you'll be up to your knees in disappointment and those are the very days you have all the more reason to say thank you".
I found these quotes to have a huge impact simply because they are the kinds of things i try to avoid? I strive to impress people especially my father. whenever i hear my father say he is disappointed i feel like i have died and lost my heart. i strive so much to impress my father i lose sight of whats important and my "boots" fill up with other peoples disappointment. that is why i feel like i could relate so much more to Sarah because she knows how i feel and plans to teach her daughter otherwise.
Respectfully,
Triston Edmonds
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay is a masterful poet. Her imagery and metaphors, along with her expressive voice and obvious earnestness are very inspiring. One of my favorite phrases was, "...And no matter how many land mines erupt in a minute be sure your mind lands on the beauty of this funny place called life..." Kay deftly manipulates language here. First, she slips in a pun, using the words "land mines" and "mind lands" to flip from the negativity of bombs to the positivity of intelligence and beauty and life. Also, she uses a metaphor, calling 'life' a place, and a beautiful one at that. That life is a place is an interesting idea. It suggests that life isn't only an experience or time, but a place that has existed before you came along and will keep on existing after you die; and other people cill pass through, stay a while, and experience the same things and see the same sights that you do--everyone is connected.
This line caught my attention because I could just imagine the ground exploding beneath my feet and hurling me though the air. But though I'd be airborne, I should be enjoying the aerial view, not thinking about how hard I'm going to hit the ground (or maybe I'll land on a mattress). Kay's lyrical poems have given me a lot to think about.
Sincerely,
Jessica Meek
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI loved the way Sarah Kay used her body language to really emphasize what she wanted us to understand thoughout her poem. I found two parts of her poem very riveting.
One was "No matter how wide you stretch your fingers your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal." I found this specifically captivating because it is so, so true. We are never going to be able to heal some of the pain that we collect in our lives and Sarah really emphasizes that point. I also think it is a really important thing to tell your child because we all feel pain at some time in our life and we can't always heal it. The other part that really moved me was "This world is made out of sugar, it can crumble so easily but don't be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it." The way she put this metaphor was astounding. It is really the perfect way to say the world is going to knock you down but you cannot be afraid to be a part of it. This is something I would tell my daughter.I wish someone had told me this earlier on in my life. It didn't need to be said in a fancy metaphor but I would have loved to have heard it. It really is an important life lesson and Sarah put it into strong words that really spoke to me and I am sure many others.
Sincerely,
Maria Fish
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI was very fascinated with Sarah Kay's use of metaphors and illusions throughout her poem. The poems she delivered and the way she presented them were both lovely and enchanting. The way she moved her body was very effective in emphasizing the emotion and meaning to her words and phrases.
In her first poem, the line that stood out most to me was when she said, "This world is made out of sugar, it can crumble so easily but don't be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it." Kay compares the world to sugar, stating how easy it can crumble but that you should not let this affect you. This line captured my attention most because it is similar to what my mother tells me. The world will knock you down but that does not mean you should give up and move forward. Listening to Sarah Kay’s poems has definitely given me more interest in spoken poetry.
Sincerely,
Burgandi Williams
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteThese blogs just keep getting more intriguing. Sarah Kay did an exemplary work not only in her poetry but the speech in itself. She has a great use of word diction and smooth transitioning between topics except for her last poem. I wasn't quite sure why she chose Hiroshima as an allusion for her poem but it was exceptionally well written.
There were many things she said that simply "moved" me. "You walk through life like this (arms crossed making an x). You protect yourself from all of life's unexpected misery or hurt that might show up. But I try to walk through life like this (palms open facing up) and yes that means catching all of life's misery and hurt. That also means that when beautiful amazing things just fall out of the sky I'm ready to catch them." Kay uses this metaphor to help show how spoken word can help others be more comfortable and open. She doesn't just simply tell us this but describes it in a way that is unimaginably relatable. I mean we all have a wall that we used to or still do have up but sometimes don't realize or admit it. Great speech, I would love to watch more of her spoken word poetry.
Sincerely,
Kulia Blalock
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved this video. TED talks are simply awesome. Spoken word poetry is one of those things I love watching and wish I was good at. Every line in this speech is magical, and choosing my favorite was rather difficult. However, I finally decided on, "When you step out of a phone booth and want to fly, and the very people you want to save are those that are standing on your cape". This is partly an allusion to the ultimate American superhero, Superhero (who changed into his suit in a mailbox).
I loved how, in her "afterspeech", she addressed the evolution of the type of poetry she wrote. She started off as indignant, then eventually realized that she could write about whatever she wanted to. I think that as a mode of expression, spoken word is absolutely amazing.
In "Hiroshima", my favorite part was when she talked about producing something that will someday sit in a museum and represent everything that you were. I think that's what we really all strive for - to leave something behind that is worth remembering.
Sincerely,
Casey
PS. Here is one of my favorite pieces of student spoken word poetry - you should check it out if you get a chance (: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0QiFy8dmX0
Dear Casey,
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this site. I really loved the first spoken poem it took me to and then I started watching some of the others. I am going to send a message to everyone by way of Engrade that if they enjoyed Sarah Kay, then they would also like the link you provided to Brave New Voices.
By the way, you are a fantastic writer! Your responses to the blogs are thoughtful and insightful, plus you know how to articulate your thoughts and feelings in an academic manner . . . and with style.
Keep reading and writing:>)
Ms. Carlson~
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video of Sarah Kay, I realize that this woman knows what she's talking about and has a great way of saying and showing it. You can really tell that her poetry is jumping straight from her heart onto a page and then out of her mouth to share her amazing words with others. Sarah Kay is truly a performer in the ways that she acts out exactly what she's saying to get her point across. I also enjoyed the section when she talked about her first poem being indignant because that's what she thought was expected of her. She then realized she could break outside the box and write about whatever she wanted and that she could be different in her writing.
I truly believe that my favorite line from the speech is this one, "(N)o matter how many land mines erupt in a minute, be sure your mind lands on the beauty of this funny place called life." The way Sarah Key states that sentence is genius. She gets her message across effectively, all the while, making it sound great. The line really is trying to tell us that in our lives, we are going to have bad times, but that's what makes life so special.
Sincerely,
Kailer Scopacasa
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay is truly gifted when it comes to spoken word. Her beautiful poetry is complimented by her infectious quirky personality and her obvious passion for what she does. Not only that, but the body language she uses makes her poetry seem relateable and intimate, and I really enjoyed listening to her "art for the ears".
A quote that truly moved me was when Kay says "there is nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sucked away". Instead of merely saying the average cookie cutter line (don't give up no matter what and keep persisting) Kay personifies the ocean and alludes to this interesting pattern in nature. This quote not only inspires me to persist in everything I do, but I can also infer that while failure may be tough, one can take it with grace, learn from it, and try once more (just like the ocean does in nature). If I should have a daughter, I would hope that, like Kay, I could give her wise and cheerful advice.
Respectfully,
Maluhia Kinimaka
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay’s performance ‘If I should have a daughter’ Kay’s opening poem was beautifully written, it contains a lot imagery and metaphores that keeps the listener entertained. She explains many situations that she wants to share with her daughter that might have had experienced. Kay may be young, but in my opinion she seems to have lived. The way she uses hand gestures and emphasizing some words gave emotion to her poem. I was totally speechless throughout the video.
Like Burgandi Williams, one of my favorite line her poem "B" would have to be “This world is made out of sugar, it crumbles so easily but don’t be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it.” This line grabbed my attention the most because everybody, including myself should live up to that quote. Everyone should know that the world may break you but you shouldn't give up no matter what. There are going to be times where nothing may seem right at that moment, but things will get better. Sarah Kay gets her message across effectively. I would most definitely watch more of her spoken word poetry.
Respectfully,
Angelika Questin
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay performs with passion, and the way she speaks and words thigs such as using many literary devices, connects her with the listener and gets her message across while making the listener such as I, feel the emotions within the message. Sarah uses literary devices such as Imagery, Personification, Metaphors whcih helps get her listener to feel what she's saying. She explains in her poem "B" that if she had a daughter, she would want her to be strong and never give up because life is tough, and when things get hard she wants her daughter to know that her parents are strong and will always have her mother to go to. I can relate and if I had a daughter, I would want her to know that I am always here if she needed me, and to never give up.
One line that moved me was "This life will hit you, hard, in the face, wait for you to get back up just to kick you in the stomach, but getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air". I like her use of Personification, and this line connects with my view of life because I too see the challenges of life and the pain that it brings as a reminder of how much you should appreciate the days when you're happy and to always get back up. I also liked the lines "The first time she realizes wonder women isn't coming, i'll make sure she knows she doesn't have to wear the cape all by herself" and "When you step out of the phonebooth and try to fly, and the very people you wanna save are the very people standing on your cape". I think the superhero image used in these lines is a good example to use to get her message across because it isn't easy to be a hero, and her mom is there to rescue her. Also in life there will be people that you are for but instead of appreciating the help, they bring you down, and I have come across those kinds of people throughout my life so I was able to connect. I believe that even though you won't always get what you give, you should still be a good person and keep giving and to do the right thing. The superhero image dispays strenth and integrity which Sarah would want her daughter to have, and i would also want those qualities for my daughter.
Overall i thought Sarah Kay's poem was beautiful and very well written because her message was strong and you could connect with it. Her performance was spectacular and very inspiring in many ways. I enjoyed it and would love to view somemore of her poetry.
Respectfully,
Jalissa Rapozo-Carveiro
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay's performance at the TED conference was just so touching and it really spoke to me. She was just so comfortable with herself and the way she could interpret her language through her body and the way she said things was pretty amazing. Not only is she just saying a poem but she uses humor, personification, imagery and connects with her audience.
One of the things that she said in her poem "B" that I really liked was when she said, "the first time she realizes that wonder woman isn't coming, I'll make sure she knows she doesn't have to wear the cape all by herself." This is something that I can relate too and the way she said it is so descriptive and she uses imagery for us not only to hear, but see that we can't do things on our own and someone wants to and can help us when we need it. I know that no matter what my mom is always there to help me and guide me so I am not alone. If I ever have a daughter I want her to know that I will always be there for her and take care of her especially through those rough times.
Sincerely,
Nikki Ramos
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay’s spoken poem is just amazing I really enjoyed it and I started looking at other spoken poems by her. The way she moves from one topic to the other is so good because it’s so blended together. When she speaks it’s so strong and so confident in what she’s talking about.
I really like when she say “ she’s gunna learn that this life will hit you hard, in the face wait for you to get back up just so that it can kick you in the stomach but getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how they love the taste of air.” Kay uses this metaphor to explain how we lose innocence and are introduced to the hardness of the world.
I like when she talk about how “she’ll look for the boy in the burning smoke and want to save him but find the boy who lit the fire instead and see if you can change him, but she will that’s why ill always keep a supply of chocolate and rain boots” she uses this metaphor to show how we fall for the ones that we think we can make better and in the end our hearts break. A guy’s best friend is their dog and a girl’s best friend is chocolate.
And the rain will wash it away if you let it, it’s like after the storm come the sun and clear blue sky. She uses a lot of metaphors that pertain to life and the mistakes we make as children going into adulthood. How we try to catch things and end up with bruises, we make choices we fall and get scraped but we learn from this mistake. She is truly gifted I wish I could be so confident in doing this types of poems. Her poems are so simple but it always has a bigger meaning then what is presented before you.
Sincerely,
Kristen Yam
Dear Ms Carlson
ReplyDeleteSarah kay's performance was really moving. I mean her poetry is straight forward. She used a lot of imagery to capture our attention. When she says that “life will hit you hard, in the face, and will wait for you to get up and kick you in the stomach”. To me that is very clear, intense and very agonizing imagery. I can see myself taking those beatings. With not only school pain, but pain that other people go through. Such as abuse, mentally physically and emotionally, stress, and sometimes even sports gives you a blow. And when I get back up, the kick of pride just strikes me in the gut. That feeling that I always would get after condition. That sudden need and want for air, that what she made me remember. She made me have a flash back of how painful, my body was, and how strong my mind needed to be to forget about the pain. And how I needed to suck it up and move on.
It was so amazing of how she presented her poem. She memorized it just as she can tell a story. Her language was so fluent, and so proper. And when she started talking about why she writes poems and how does it help her. It was really remarkable. She would write poems when she feels down. And she would write poems, just to write them. It’s so cool how she can stop whatever she is doing and focus for a little while and just write what’s on her mind. She can write things that can motivate her to keep moving forward. Also she can help herself relight the fire and the desire to continue on her hard path, of adulthood. I wonder if she can teach that so some high school students that are struggling right now. If I had a daughter, or even children, I want them to figure out how to pull themselves out of some situations.
Sincerely
AJ Cummings
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this video. Both of Sarah Kay’s poems were fantastically written and very entertaining. They also had a lot of insight and really caused you, as the listener, to think deeply about what she was saying. I found myself replaying the poems a few times trying to decide on what my favorite phrase was of these two poems. After repeatedly listening to the poems, I finally decided.
In Kay’s poem, “If I should have a Daughter”, my favorite part is when she says, “When your boots will fill with rain and you’ll be up to your knees in disappointment and those are the very days you have all the more reason to say “thank you,” ‘cause there is nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline no matter how many times it’s sent away.” This is the most moving line of this poem for many reasons. She’s teaching us that there are times when people will let you down, you’ll be disappointed, and having a rough time. But, those are the times that you have to be grateful for. Those are the times that will make you a better and stronger person. She is teaching that even if you get hurt or don’t succeed you must keep at it. The ocean is so persistent that it always goes back to the shoreline. It never gives up and it never will. We need to be like the ocean and not give up. Even when it gets rough keep going. These rough times will mold you into a strong, tenacious, and understanding human being.
In this line of her poem, Kay does a few things to make the line aesthetically pleasing. She uses imagery so you can literally see someone, in your mind, in the rain, with their rain boots filled. You can see the disappointment in their face. Kay then goes on to use the metaphor of the ocean and the shoreline to compare to how we shouldn’t give up, no matter how hard it is. She personifies the ocean, and says it “kisses” the shoreline. In your mind you picture the waves slowly, making its way up the sand on a peaceful night. This line also fits into her theme of what she will teach her daughter, about how life is complex, and how things aren’t always the best, but that’s just how it is. All these elements are what helps to enhance her poetry and makes it entertaining for the listener to hear.
Sincerely,
Cassie Wilson
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay's performance was quite wonderful and well put together, with smooth and fluent dialogue, using an arsenal of literary devices to in many ways "move" me, and more importantly intrigue me so that i'd pay close attention to every word and phrase to the point of obsession.
She discusses the beauty, but hardiness of life, and if she had a daughter, how she'd raise her and how she'd want her to view life. She explained how she'd paint the "solar systems" on the back of her daughter's hand, so she wouldn't be able to say "I know that like the back of my hand", referring to a classic and popular saying, in the form of a allusion; used to show how Sarah would fight her future daughter's arrogance, for no one truly knows anything really like "the back of their hand".
She also refers (aka allusions) to the popular DC superhero Wonder Woman, and uses the superhero to an extent to explain the harshness that life presents by pointing out that we have to fight our own battles, and that we won't be able to rely on saviors to swoop in and face our fights or frights, and how she wants her daughter to realize this.
Sarah also uses metaphors like "this world is made out of sugar" and that even though it "crumbles", referring to the fact that life never really goes the way we want it, and that there will be hardships. But also, Sarah says she'd never want her daughter to be afraid to "Taste it", for like sugar, the world, life, can truly be a lovely and "sweet" place of endearment, but just a bitter and terrible place.
At one point she even uses imagery like "This life will hit you, hard, in the face, waiting for you to get back up so it can hit yo in the stomach", in a sense it's also like a metaphor, comparing the harsh ways of the world to physical abuse, and how it will just keep hitting.
Sarah's well worded and upbeat performance was really inspiring and gives you a more positive view of life after hearing it over and over, makes you realizes that this world is tough, but we can't let it get us down, that life is wonderful, awe inspiring, and grand.
Respectfully,
Brandon Jenks
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteThis "video" was irritating.....and what I mean by that was that the video would not buffer fast enough on my iPad during the most exciting points or parts of her poems!
Besides that, Sarah Key was so amazing and astonishing as she used a bunch of literary devices in poem "If I should have a daughter". In her poem, she exquisitively demonstrates life and how harsh, but beautiful it can be and also the viewpoints she would share if she had a daughter. To explain this to the audience she uses expresisson and body language to express herself and convey her message.
One example of a literary device she uses was imagery. Brandon mentioned in his comment, on this video was "this life will hit you, hard, in the face, waiting for you to get back up so it can hit you in the stomach", which explains life for everyone is just waiting to kick you down farther then you originally are.
The line were she mentions "Remember that good things come in threes and so do bad things" is a literary allusion referring stories such as "the three little pigs" and " the three blind mice" or " goldilocks and the three bears". When she said that good things come in threes she is probably referring to the rule of thirds which is a principle used in many writings such as the ones mentioned above.
My favorite line that moved me was when she said "the world tastes like sugar. It can crumble so easy, but don't be afraid and stick out your tongue and taste". It felt to me that she said that the world is full of sweetness and joy and full of abundant experiences, but that sweetness and joy can crumble as sometimes they don't go the way you want it too. Despite all that, you should still venture though and try it out because you'll never know the taste of that moment in life until you see it though yourself. It made me feel that the world is full of so many things that are just waiting to happen.
Respectfully,
Kalani Mirakami
Dear Ms.Carlson
ReplyDeleteThis performance by Sarah Keys really got me thinking hard of what she was trying to tell the audience and how she wanted them to respond and feel towards her performance. Sarah Keys is a very talented lady and good at what she does, I can see how so many people get inspired by her. I really enjoyed that performace and wanted to watch more of it.
I like it when Sarah says in poem B "This world is made out of sugar, it can crumble so easily but dont be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it." This type of poem writing is very clever yet to the point. This poem made me want to become a better daughter to my mother and made me think how much my mother does for me and my family and how my mom is trying to prepare me for the world and eventually later on in my life, become a mother and teach my kids how to survive in this world and teach them how dangerous it can get and how we have to learn how to fight through all our trials that we face through life. Sarahs performance really taught me a lesson on life.
Respectfully,
Kanani Colburn
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay is amazing at what she does, usually any normal person who would stand on stage for that long talking about his/her stories would bore a crowd and their viewers to death. But Sarah spoke in such a way where every word, every story was always intresting to listen to, it was entertaining and brought a sense of agreement and a feeling of understanding for her every sentence, even the crowd was smiling throughout her outspoke poetry. The part that moved me the most was when she began talking about the allusion of hiroshima bomb, and how a man blocked the rays of the supernova so that his shadow was all that was left of him on the wall behind him. How the only thing some people will be remembered by are diaries and wrist watches or small things like such, and how if she had to be remembered by it would be one poem put in a muesuem. It made me feel as if I wanted to be remembered much more than that and leave something in this world where others could know my story in the least amount of words as possible. Again sarah kay is amazing poet and I could watch hours and hours of her speakings without a yawn.
Sincerley,
Shiloh Begley
Dear Ms Carlson
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay uses many different rhetorical devices in her spoken poetry. She is very energetic and smart. She used a metaphor when she says life hits you hard in the stomach. She takes something that isn't physical in to something that is. This was my favorite line. The whole beginning was wonderful. She also combines a metaphor with a cliché when she says “I'll put the solar system on the back of her hand so she can never say, I know that like the back of my hand”. She turn something old and over overused and turns it in to something new. I like that way she uses these metaphors to create a certain rhythm and flow. Her flashy modern style is so much different from want you learn in school.
Sincerely,
Lars Vali
Dear Mrs. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay spoke in a way I, and many others, could really connect with. When she read her poem ' If I should have a daughter' her words made me feel like I had known her and her mind set on life, each line I found a way to connect with her. One of Kays most powerful lines, I thought, was "she's going to learn, life is going to hit you hard, in the face. It's going to wait for you to get back up just so it can kick you in the stomach." This metaphor really explains well her thoughts and is an eye opener to her mind. Another phrase that moved me was "No matter how wide you stretch your fingers your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal." This poem can really relate to any good mother-daughter relationship, all the life time of knowledge and wisdom being passed on. Explaining well the hardship of being a girl, but also how sweet it can be if you let it.
Sincerely,
Whitney Beck
Dear Ms. Carlson
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Sarah Kay's poetry. The way she utilizes body language and facial expressions makes an impact on her words, allowing the audiences to get a sense of how much passion she has into what she's saying. One of the phrases she said that stuck to my memory was "when you step out of the phone booth and try to fly, the very people you want to save are the ones standing on your cape." This is a clever way of saying that even though you try your hardest to achieve your dreams, there will always be people holding you back, preventing you from success. I can relate to this in ways where I try to achieve certain goals, but there are always obstacles in my way, whether it be people or inanimate objects. When you over come the obstacles, it only makes you stronger. In a way, I feel like I could relate to Kay because someday, very far into the future, I do want a daughter. It's inspiring to see how much care she puts into teaching her daughter the way of life, being that she knows what it's like to be a girl. Overall, Sarah Kay is a motivational poet who's creative words are quite touching.
Sincerely,
Lexy Stogner
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDelete“This isn’t my first time here, this isn’t my last time here, these aren’t the last words I’ll share, but just in case, I’m trying to get it right, this time around.” The written words of Sarah Kay’s poem “Hiroshima”. Though the words on paper fail dramatically to deliver the same power and pleasure as Sarah’s spoken word performance, they still leave a smile on my face, for I am unable to read these words with out the picture in my mind of Sarah herself saying them.
Sarah’s words soar beyond being aesthetically pleasing. Her “finesse” sort of way of using literary devices through out her writing helps to create words of those that I could listen to again and again. Her use of repetition through out these lines is what first catches your attention. Then as the rhythm and rhyme of the words flirt with your ears, you begin to notice her use of symbolism. As she speaks the words mentioned above, her want, her desire, her strive to do the right thing and to do her best becomes clear. And finally, you are captured in the mood she has set for you. After hearing these words I too suddenly felt the need “to get things right this time around”.
Though Sarah’s words are indisputably fantastic, I believe her delivery is the core of the feelings her words bring. From the tone of her voice, to the slight movements and gestures she makes, and finally the look in her eyes, Sarah delivers words that go further than just make you listen. Sarah has taken the building blocks I mentioned above and more, to build a castle in which she allows you to enter every time she speaks.
Respectfully,
Shania Weiss
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteWhat Sarah Kay says in this video just takes my breath away. The energy and pip in her speech just mesmerizes me and I am sure it did to everybody else. When she speaks she uses words in a way I have never heard before. The words are music to my ears as she is talking.
My favorite part of Kay’s speech is probably the beginning, when she is talking about if she was to have a daughter. Sarah says that her daughter’s going to learn that “this life will hit you, hard, in the face. Wait for you to get back up, just so it can kick you in the stomach, but getting the wind knocked out of you is the only to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.” She gets in your face and lets you know what’s up.
Another part that I liked about her talk was her use of comedy. Even though you might not have heard the audience laughing I definitely was. Her comedy really got me interested in what she was saying and got me to want to keep watching to see if she would say something else that was funny. Over all this was a great video to watch and really opened my eyes.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Paleka
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay is simply amazing. I have never been so completely enchanted by words than when I viewed this video. The way she weaves through her words and how she tells an entire story in a very beautiful way. Her poems are so full of life, and beauty and emotion, I have never felt so inspired by words before. Sarah Kay, I felt, made her poems very accessible as well as making it easy for the audience to get lost in her world of spoken poetry. I very much enjoyed her preformance.
Personally, my favorite line from her poem "B" would either be "Instead of mom, she’s going to call me “point b”
Because that way she knows that no matter what happens, A
t least she can always find her way to me." or "because there is nothing more beautiful than the way
the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline
no matter how many times it’s sent away.". I chose these two sections from her poem as my favorite because they both have such a deeper meaning than what can be perceived by just listening to them once. The reason I enjoyed the first lines, is because I connected with it. A mother is someone who a child needs, someone they would be completely lost without and that really moved me because I know how it feels to be lost, and the only person I was able to find my way back to was my mother. The reason I chose the second set of lines was because it is simply a beautiful metaphor that represents perserverance, that although we may be put down and rejected that we cannot let that hinder us.
In addition, Kay's second poem about Hiroshima was through and through a very moving piece. Her poem brings us back to a dark time in history and reminds us that although things may have seemed so dark, that there was something worth remembering. When she spoke of the shadow of positive light that lingers on the remains of that blackened door, really moved me, because she was able to see somehow beautiful and positive out of such a horrific event.
Respectfully,
Amber Diaz.
PS when i post this it'll say i posted it on September 3rd but I am Posting this on September 2 at 10:15 pm.
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah's Kay's poem If I Should Have A Daughter was quite imaginative. The way she used different literary devices to create pictures was very powerful and moving. Another way she made her poetry so enthralling was her body language and different tones on her words.
One particular line that I can relate to is "I'll always keep an extra supply of chocolate and rain boots nearby, because there is no heartbreak that chocolate can't fix. Okay there are a few heartbreaks chocolate can't fix..." I (and many people) can relate to this line because whenever there has been a heartbreak, or sad time, people turn to chocolate or ice cream. Then also as a contradiction chocolate won't fix everything, and not always helpful in for the long term.
"No matter how wide you stretch your fingers your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal." was another moving line in her poem. This line expresses that no matter how hard you try, you can't always fix things on your own, but that all right.
I thoroughly enjoyed both poems by Sarah Kay, she is an inspiring young women to look up to.
Sincerely,
Taylor McGinnis
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kays poetry is amazing! I agree with her that there are some poems that just need to be spoken out loud instead of being read on a piece of paper because when its spoken out loud, its brought to life. The way her tone of voice is and her vital use of body language makes it all the more interesting to listen and relate too. In her poem "If i should have a daughter", was very moving. It made me realize that this is the type of things my mother deals with once she had my brother and I, and that Once I'm a mother I will see this within my child, and remember I once experienced the same things they will. The one phrase Sarah used in her poem that really stuck with me was ," No matter how many land minds erupt in a minute, be sure your mind lands on the beauty on this funny place called life." The way she worded this sentence was fantastic. I can relate to this phrase because I believe she's implying that no matter how many bad things are happening in the moment , be sure too remember that this place called life is beautiful , and that everything get better in time. That line can be relatable to anyone who has ever had something bad happen to them.
Respectfully,
Shannon Delaney
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSpoken word is actually my favorite form of poetic speech, and I loved Sarah Kay's composition. My favorite part of the poem was when she said that she would tell her daughter to never say sorry for keeping her wide eyes shinning, and even though her voice is small to always keep singing. It was very aesthetically pleasing as well as a use of the rhetorical strategy of Pathos. It showed how she would encourage her daughter. I also liked how she said that when war and hurt are shoved at her daughter she would be there for her. Another thing I liked was when she said she would paint the universe on the back of her daughter's hands so she would have to learn before she was able to say she knew something like the back of her hand. I liked how Sarah Kay's composition was smooth without being a rhyme and how it flowed nicely.
Respectfully,
Aveilana Saldana
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteLike my fellow classmate, I also enjoyed Sarah Kay's "If I should have a daughter". It was a very uplifting poem that had great meaning. Her use of analogy and metaphors gave great imagery. One of the great qualities she has was the way she performed her poem. That is a great quality to have and especially to me, it made the poem come more to life.
When she gives the examples of what she would do for her daughter she speaks as if she is in the shoes of her daughter, and she is prepared for what would come if she were to have a daughter. For example she says "I'll always keep an extra supply of chocolate...because there is no heartbreak that chocolate can't fix." This really moved me when she said it. She knows that this is what a daughter would need and she has a great understanding of what it would take to be a mother. Another thing is the stuff that she would say to her daughter. She truly speaks out of her heart and would want her daughter to know everything about all the secrets of the world so she can have good life examples.
I usually don't like any type of poetry, but after this it really has inspired me to listen to more spoken poetry. I will be sure to check out the sites that Casey recommended.
Sincerely,
Alanna Bauman
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteEven though I am not a fan of poetry I've made an exception for this. Sarah Kay's "If I Should Have A Daughter" is a masterpiece of spoken art. She uses descriptions the magnificently paints pictures in your mind as you pay attention to her hand gestures. She uses metaphors and analogies in a way so that the audience may easily understand what her message is.
"I will always keep an extra supply of chocolate.. Because there is no heartbreak that chocolate can't fix." This phrase really stood out to me. Thrpugh her own experience of being young she is able to know what her daughter would need. Using her life as an example she prepared herself for what a mother is expected to do.
I truly admire Sarah's work and how she has presented it. Her emotion and actions speak for themselves as she capture the full attention of all her audience.
Sincerely,
Keliikoa Baclayon
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kays words truly inspired me. I was mesmerized with the way she annihilated words and, without using visuals, was able to paint pictures in our minds and draw the audience in. Her use of literary devices helped to show me what a great difference they can make.
I was most moved when Sarah talked of her 'spoken word journey'. Spoken word poetry was her passion, and to pursue it she followed the three steps of 1.) I can do this 2.) I will continue to do this because I love this 3.) Just because everyone else is doing a certain style, doesn't mean I have to as well, I can focus on me and make it my own.
I felt that myself, as well as the audience could really relate to her journey and these steps because everyone has a passion of some sort that they wish to pursue and be great at, but you have to tell yourself that you can and will do this because it is something you love, and not let others influence the way you do it.
I greatly enjoyed this video and look forward to seeing more in the future!
Respectfully,
Brooke Spencer
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI believe Sarah Kay is very talented in the way she manipulates words and sentences to give her audience perspective. One of the strongest techniques she uses in her poem “If I Should Have a Daughter” is her tone; it really sets the mood of the poem and enthralls her listeners.
When Kay said, “She’s going to learn, that this life will hit you, hard, in the face. Wait for you to get back up just so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.”, it really stood out to me. This is because it was phrased so perfectly and I feel as though it is a very relatable statement. It is the ugly and whole truth that life is not easy, and when it seems like life is just dumping on you, and that your situation doesn’t seem like it can get any worse, there’s always a bright side you just have to learn to pick yourself up once you fall. You always have to remember to focus on the positive aspects and outcomes, because, otherwise, you will lead a very upsetting, stressful life. It is a lesson that is beneficial for everyone who learns it. You only live once, so you might as well make it count.
Sincerely,
Madisson Hinkel
Dear Ms.Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay's poetry is very moving. It makes sense is funny and makes you realize things you normally wouldn't. It makes you think. She's really inspiring because of how young she started out in spoken word poetry and how she challenges everyone to be poets. When she mentioned always having chocolate cause there is no heart break that cant break it stood out to me because she was also a teenager and can really relate to all the challenges we face.
Sincerely,
Sariah Beeby
Sarah Kay is a very talented poet, the way that she conveys her words has a very strong effect on people. in her performance 'If I Should Have a Daughter' she presented her poem 'B'. The part that stood out to me the most was; "when you open your hands to catch and wind up with only blisters and bruises" This comparison is completely true. She learned a lot through growing up and she expressed what she wants her future daughter to know and learn before becoming an adult.
ReplyDeleteShe mastered the use of imagery in this piece and set a mood that was very easy to relate to and understand.
Sincerely,
Podma Phillips
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a huge fan of poetry, but watching the video of Sarah Kay's If I had A Daughter made me realize that not all types of poetry are bland, or in other words, boring. Sarah Kay is an incredible poet. She has such lively movements while she's talking. I love how she's not just standing around talking, and even when she's nervous and lacks self confidence, she's still courageous enough to stand in front of thousands of people to share her story.
I find it really difficult to pick a favorite from the video. They were all just amazing ! However, there was one thing that stood out the most. Which was one she compared herself to the biblical Sarah. The biblical Sarah was told that she was to do the impossible but laughed because she didn't know what to do. Kay also didn't know what to do BUT, she knew that she wanted to strive to have an impossible connection with her audience.
Respectfully,
Precious Custodio
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay's diction and the way she conveys her emotions makes her piece 'If I Should Have A Daughter' a lively, moving and inspirational statement. She uses this spoken poetry method to her advantage to get her point across in a way that simple text could not do justice. Throughout the video, she describes how she changed from a fawning poetic fan in her teenage years to a teacher that 'helps kids connect through the power of self-expression'.
I particularly enjoyed the piece when she was talking about the really tall girl in the hooded sweatshirt who said "Hey, I really felt that. Thanks.". This seemed to be a pivotal, or at least, inspirational, moment for Sarah Kay, as it seemed to have inspired her to become what she is today.
Sincerely,
Griffin Madden
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteSarah Kay’s performance ‘If I should have a daughter’ was beautifully written and communicated. I was very fascinated with Kay's use of metaphors and allusions throughout her poem, and she is truly a performer in the ways that she acts out exactly what she's saying to get her point across. She transitioned from subject to subject flawlessly, and kept the audience engaged by utilizing comedy, drama, and changes in pitch and volume to convey varied amounts of tension. Throughout her poem, she used imagery to capture and hold the audience to something they can relate to as a whole.
Sincerely,
Aidan Moore
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteAfter watching 'Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter', I was left facinated and amazed at the way she expressed her poetry. I literally watched the video twice because I was so inspired by her wise words, that I had to watch it again. My favorite line in her poetry is, " No matter how wide you stretch your fingers, your hand will always be too small to catch all the things you want to heal ". Some of the factors she does to make her poetry seem appealing or aesthetically pleasing is the way she said it, it was filled with many emotions. Also, she had a great posture and gave eye contact to her audience. Spoken word poetry is something I never heard of until now and I have to say that it seems awesome because spoken word poetry teaches the ability to express yourself. Sarah said that she does spoken word poetry to help her students rediscover wonder, to be cool and unfazed. That is one of the reasons why I was inspired by the video. I for one am a person that lacks self confidence and is fazed by many things. With that being, I think I may start doing spoken word poetry because I really do like poetry. I liked how Sarah ended her performance with a spoken word poetry on the bombing of Hiroshima. I found it fascinating, it created many visual images. Her voice runs freely and smoothly. Sarah Kay is truley a master in poetry.
Respectfully,
Jeric Manzano
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI was so touch on how she made poetry sounds not even like poetry. She made me see it from a whole other point of view. It was so interesting to see how she pin pointed everything that a good mother would do but she described it in ways that us young teenagers could understand. I feel like Sarah gets into the minds of not only the older generation but the younger one as well.
What i really wanted to point out on one of the things she said was that yes this world it made of sugar things of the world can come to you so sweet and you instantly fall deeply in love with the wall of ignorance but it will crumble down before you know it. But i like that fact on how she says that even though that may happen to us we shouldn't be afraid because those kind of things and either makes or break us.
Sarah is such an amazing speaker she makes me more knowledgeable on many things of not only the topic on having a daughter but, to many other things of this place we call earth.
Sincerely, Kelieann Nuesca
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI love spoken word poetry and Sarah Kay is great at it and was amazing when translating her thoughts, into words, to her listeners. When she spoke about walking around with arms open or arms closed, it stood out. The points and thoughts she got across were great. She explained in "If I Should Have a Daughter" to never stop her daughters eyes from shining and to never stop singing as small as she may be. That basically our lives will have so many problems to pull us down but if we keep that wall up we wont be able to see the good and beautiful things life can bring also. She spoke about how her experiences and memories created her poetry. She used great imagery when telling her stories, she related to her audience, and made great comparisons and connections through everything that she said. Like how she would have her daughter call her point B then related that to how no matter what happens to her, her daughter will always be able to come to her, and then brought that into life and struggles we face. She also compared and connected her mom naming her Sarah to how it was biblical, then a small explanation and story of Sarah, then how it related to her, then got into reincarnation which she sort of included a couple times in the beginning and throughout her message. Sarah Kay's message was great, she's an amazing poet and made me fall in love with poetry all over again.
Sincerely,
Shianne Schorr
Dear Ms. Carlson,
ReplyDeleteI really loved this video. Sarah Kay's spoken poetry sounded so amazing, and rekindled my love for poetry. I loved this video so much, that I watched this video twice. The second time I watched this video on TED, I grabbed a piece of paper and jotted down my favorite things Sarah has said throughout her video. I came up with 8 things she has said that really made me go "Wow", or that has really made me more interested in her words. I actually have two favorite things she said.
One of my favorite things she said is the quote "Getting the wind kicked out of you, is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air." Sarah Kay tried to get out of that quote that when life knocks you down, and kicks the wind out of you, you still have to keep going and it's a reminder to yourself that you're still alive and still breathing. Sarah Kay used description, and used good diction. Her diction was full of wit, to me. Sarah Kay used excellent words.
A quote that Sarah Kay also said, that was my favorite was, "I try to walk through life like this, and yes, that means catching lives miseries and hurt, but it also means when beautiful amazing things fall out of the sky, I am ready to catch them." When Sarah Kay was referring to walking through like "this", she showed her hands out, with her palms facing up. Sarah Kay means that some people walk through life guarded; afraid for many things in life that will hurt you. But Sarah Kay tries to walk through life with her hands open even though she knows she will experience pain, misery, and sadness, but opening yourself to everything in the world doesn't stop yourself from being granted and thrown beautiful things like miracles or happy moments, in life. Sarah Kay created an image in my mind of horrible things being handed down, but then replenished with rainbows and happy moments.
Sarah Kay is very inspirational to me, and it was so inspiring to see her go through her thoughts and the things she wanted to say without stopping, and stuttering because she was so confident in her words. Thanks to Sarah Kay, poetry has won my heart all over again.
Sincerely,
Jenny Anne Paleracio