I’m not a storyteller but there’s a story about me and unlike the female
story about me and unlike the female
story about me and unlike the female poet that you knew in the opening clip I
poet that you knew in the opening clip I
poet that you knew in the opening clip I wrote my first poem at the age of 20 and
wrote my first poem at the age of 20 and
wrote my first poem at the age of 20 and it was really bad I didn’t know what
it was really bad I didn’t know what
it was really bad I didn’t know what else to write about besides me maybe I
else to write about besides me maybe I
else to write about besides me maybe I did but even if I knew I wouldn’t know
did but even if I knew I wouldn’t know
did but even if I knew I wouldn’t know how to read about them so it was bad it
how to read about them so it was bad it
how to read about them so it was bad it was full of myself I was full of myself
was full of myself I was full of myself
was full of myself I was full of myself perhaps as do em but what I mean is
perhaps as do em but what I mean is
perhaps as do em but what I mean is there’s so much within me to write about
there’s so much within me to write about
there’s so much within me to write about and by doing that I became the writer of
and by doing that I became the writer of
and by doing that I became the writer of my very own material and the pleasure of
my very own material and the pleasure of
my very own material and the pleasure of being able to express yourself on paper
being able to express yourself on paper
being able to express yourself on paper is orgasmic oops what do I do
could you email here sorry thank you
could you email here sorry thank you poetry is all about accident so the
poetry is all about accident so the
poetry is all about accident so the pleasure of being able to express
pleasure of being able to express
pleasure of being able to express yourself on paper is orgasmic it is a
yourself on paper is orgasmic it is a
yourself on paper is orgasmic it is a moment to be felt and it’s a moment to
moment to be felt and it’s a moment to
moment to be felt and it’s a moment to be felt in as a task to be completed
be felt in as a task to be completed
be felt in as a task to be completed with tension and rhythm not rationed not
with tension and rhythm not rationed not
with tension and rhythm not rationed not for anyone else and that was the turning
for anyone else and that was the turning
for anyone else and that was the turning point of my life
twenty-point happened because my
twenty-point happened because my feelings for the first time were invited
feelings for the first time were invited
feelings for the first time were invited validated and evaluated in the English
validated and evaluated in the English
validated and evaluated in the English classroom so looking back I wonder why I
classroom so looking back I wonder why I
classroom so looking back I wonder why I didn’t experience this turning-point
didn’t experience this turning-point
didn’t experience this turning-point much sooner and no surprise we learned
much sooner and no surprise we learned
much sooner and no surprise we learned the ABC we learned the he/she/it we
the ABC we learned the he/she/it we
the ABC we learned the he/she/it we learned the why the what and the how and
learned the why the what and the how and
learned the why the what and the how and what we were given in return in
what we were given in return in
what we were given in return in assessments were literally crosses and
assessments were literally crosses and
assessments were literally crosses and takes when we’re going to take we
takes when we’re going to take we
takes when we’re going to take we weren’t excited because we got things
weren’t excited because we got things
weren’t excited because we got things right we were relieved because we didn’t
right we were relieved because we didn’t
right we were relieved because we didn’t get things wrong and when we get across
get things wrong and when we get across
get things wrong and when we get across of course we were told to correct my
of course we were told to correct my
of course we were told to correct my mistakes until we got them right so
mistakes until we got them right so
mistakes until we got them right so slowly and gradually we aimed at this
slowly and gradually we aimed at this
slowly and gradually we aimed at this evil stepmother called accuracy and we
evil stepmother called accuracy and we
evil stepmother called accuracy and we were taught to do so meanwhile there’s
were taught to do so meanwhile there’s
were taught to do so meanwhile there’s so much does not mention to us in the
so much does not mention to us in the
so much does not mention to us in the English language classroom one of the
English language classroom one of the
English language classroom one of the many things that does not mention the
many things that does not mention the
many things that does not mention the English language classroom is ambiguity
English language classroom is ambiguity
English language classroom is ambiguity ambiguity is annoying because we view
ambiguity is annoying because we view
ambiguity is annoying because we view insecure we view insecure because we
insecure we view insecure because we
insecure we view insecure because we cannot arrive at a meaning but get
cannot arrive at a meaning but get
cannot arrive at a meaning but get suspender between this and that
suspender between this and that
suspender between this and that ambiguity is also annoying in the way
ambiguity is also annoying in the way
ambiguity is also annoying in the way that is very difficult to talk about and
that is very difficult to talk about and
that is very difficult to talk about and therefore even more difficult for
therefore even more difficult for
therefore even more difficult for teachers to assess students know the
teachers to assess students know the
teachers to assess students know the word Road and they know the word
word Road and they know the word
word Road and they know the word patience but they have problems
patience but they have problems
patience but they have problems understanding this phrase road of
understanding this phrase road of
understanding this phrase road of patience by the Polish poet Adam Zagat
patience by the Polish poet Adam Zagat
patience by the Polish poet Adam Zagat whiskey and take bay downs translation
whiskey and take bay downs translation
whiskey and take bay downs translation as an example he defined labour as arms
as an example he defined labour as arms
as an example he defined labour as arms and circling the earth and the guilty is
and circling the earth and the guilty is
and circling the earth and the guilty is not the opposite of clarity ambiguity is
not the opposite of clarity ambiguity is
not the opposite of clarity ambiguity is in fact clarity exercising is best by
in fact clarity exercising is best by
in fact clarity exercising is best by going beyond the literal ambiguity is
going beyond the literal ambiguity is
going beyond the literal ambiguity is confusing because it takes a different
confusing because it takes a different
confusing because it takes a different route in describing what we have already
route in describing what we have already
route in describing what we have already known
known
known this was me so it is the route that we
this was me so it is the route that we
this was me so it is the route that we are not comfortable with now atoms at
are not comfortable with now atoms at
are not comfortable with now atoms at atoms sikorsky’s expression road of
atoms sikorsky’s expression road of
atoms sikorsky’s expression road of patience becomes crystal clear when we
patience becomes crystal clear when we
patience becomes crystal clear when we remember the images of protesters all
remember the images of protesters all
remember the images of protesters all over the world
over the world
over the world images of streets of people being out
images of streets of people being out
images of streets of people being out there fighting for justice and basic
there fighting for justice and basic
there fighting for justice and basic human rights and bailouts definition
human rights and bailouts definition
human rights and bailouts definition here gives us a very strong visual image
here gives us a very strong visual image
here gives us a very strong visual image in now had that a dictionary definition
in now had that a dictionary definition
in now had that a dictionary definition current so it is the ambiguous the
current so it is the ambiguous the
current so it is the ambiguous the difference that we instinctively reject
difference that we instinctively reject
difference that we instinctively reject and avoid and remember this good
and avoid and remember this good
and avoid and remember this good ambiguous language is creative language
ambiguous language is creative language
ambiguous language is creative language because the very different route is a
because the very different route is a
because the very different route is a way to think out-of-the-box ambigú
way to think out-of-the-box ambigú
way to think out-of-the-box ambigú Utley also created a space for sharing
Utley also created a space for sharing
Utley also created a space for sharing emotions through discussion it is okay
emotions through discussion it is okay
emotions through discussion it is okay that we encounter things that we don’t
that we encounter things that we don’t
that we encounter things that we don’t understand or things that don’t quite
understand or things that don’t quite
understand or things that don’t quite make sense but have we given the room to
make sense but have we given the room to
make sense but have we given the room to the students to talk about what
the students to talk about what
the students to talk about what ambiguities mean to them how they feel
ambiguities mean to them how they feel
ambiguities mean to them how they feel about them have we shown them to ask
about them have we shown them to ask
about them have we shown them to ask intelligent questions how can we prompt
intelligent questions how can we prompt
intelligent questions how can we prompt them to ask intelligent questions and
them to ask intelligent questions and
them to ask intelligent questions and more importantly have we ever told them
more importantly have we ever told them
more importantly have we ever told them the language can be felt as material
the language can be felt as material
the language can be felt as material like fabric such as chiffon dolphin will
like fabric such as chiffon dolphin will
like fabric such as chiffon dolphin will have you tired every Monday right
have you tired every Monday right
have you tired every Monday right will you stressed when we have too much
will you stressed when we have too much
will you stressed when we have too much on our plate and we feel necessary when
on our plate and we feel necessary when
on our plate and we feel necessary when someone we dearly love cry in our arms
someone we dearly love cry in our arms
someone we dearly love cry in our arms but it’s so odd to me that once an
but it’s so odd to me that once an
but it’s so odd to me that once an English lesson starts at least in Hong
English lesson starts at least in Hong
English lesson starts at least in Hong Kong the fact that we are individuals
Kong the fact that we are individuals
Kong the fact that we are individuals through the emotions is immediately
through the emotions is immediately
through the emotions is immediately discarded as if there was a really a
discarded as if there was a really a
discarded as if there was a really a switch for that and that to me is a true
switch for that and that to me is a true
switch for that and that to me is a true meaning of robotic running poetry isn’t
meaning of robotic running poetry isn’t
meaning of robotic running poetry isn’t that is always been here you watched an
that is always been here you watched an
that is always been here you watched an opening clip about a wonderful female
opening clip about a wonderful female
opening clip about a wonderful female performance poet rachel’s presentation
performance poet rachel’s presentation
performance poet rachel’s presentation coded maya angelou and you have this
coded maya angelou and you have this
coded maya angelou and you have this poet standing here talking to you
poet standing here talking to you
poet standing here talking to you interesting right so poetry is not that
interesting right so poetry is not that
interesting right so poetry is not that but together with the poets it is
but together with the poets it is
but together with the poets it is underrated and under discussed in the
underrated and under discussed in the
underrated and under discussed in the public domain then this means poem call
public domain then this means poem call
public domain then this means poem call alternate names for black boys we can
alternate names for black boys we can
alternate names for black boys we can easily find it online it is a it is a
easily find it online it is a it is a
easily find it online it is a it is a list poem the poor doesn’t use lines to
list poem the poor doesn’t use lines to
list poem the poor doesn’t use lines to tell us the sufferance of being an
tell us the sufferance of being an
tell us the sufferance of being an african-american in the states right now
african-american in the states right now
african-american in the states right now so he uses a list and some items from
so he uses a list and some items from
so he uses a list and some items from the list are ambiguous metaphors
the list are ambiguous metaphors
the list are ambiguous metaphors revealing the racial tension he
revealing the racial tension he
revealing the racial tension he describes being a black african-american
describes being a black african-american
describes being a black african-american right now in stay is like smoke above
right now in stay is like smoke above
right now in stay is like smoke above the burning bush it’s like an oil heavy
the burning bush it’s like an oil heavy
the burning bush it’s like an oil heavy starlight and finally a mother’s joy and
starlight and finally a mother’s joy and
starlight and finally a mother’s joy and clutched breath these metaphors not only
clutched breath these metaphors not only
clutched breath these metaphors not only tell us that the only tells the pain of
tell us that the only tells the pain of
tell us that the only tells the pain of being a black person the states in the
being a black person the states in the
being a black person the states in the united states they are written out of
united states they are written out of
united states they are written out of pain because it take a very different
pain because it take a very different
pain because it take a very different route in confronting and corresponding
route in confronting and corresponding
route in confronting and corresponding to racial discrimination and only
to racial discrimination and only
to racial discrimination and only through discovery and one is through
through discovery and one is through
through discovery and one is through discussing these ambiguities they can
discussing these ambiguities they can
discussing these ambiguities they can read us can understand the lives of
read us can understand the lives of
read us can understand the lives of people who are different from them trust
people who are different from them trust
people who are different from them trust me it works
me it works
me it works because what ambiguities mean to us is
because what ambiguities mean to us is
because what ambiguities mean to us is so diverse that we can understand them
so diverse that we can understand them
so diverse that we can understand them very differently and when we discuss
very differently and when we discuss
very differently and when we discuss them we are doing something very very
them we are doing something very very
them we are doing something very very important we are bringing in the life of
important we are bringing in the life of
important we are bringing in the life of the other and ask yourself how do we
the other and ask yourself how do we
the other and ask yourself how do we matter to them and then to us and that
matter to them and then to us and that
matter to them and then to us and that is the origin of empathy so this one
is the origin of empathy so this one
is the origin of empathy so this one I found that last year not long after I
I found that last year not long after I
I found that last year not long after I won the lamda and people started talking
won the lamda and people started talking
won the lamda and people started talking about me online especially in the golden
about me online especially in the golden
about me online especially in the golden forum not a lot of comments but no they
forum not a lot of comments but no they
forum not a lot of comments but no they were interesting and one of the comments
were interesting and one of the comments
were interesting and one of the comments said that you know this guy is very late
said that you know this guy is very late
said that you know this guy is very late day as he like removed from reality and
day as he like removed from reality and
day as he like removed from reality and probably this guy doesn’t have a job or
probably this guy doesn’t have a job or
probably this guy doesn’t have a job or does I have to worry about making a
does I have to worry about making a
does I have to worry about making a living and I think we were right
living and I think we were right
living and I think we were right I could not even survive a day if I
I could not even survive a day if I
I could not even survive a day if I become a full-time poet I would have
become a full-time poet I would have
become a full-time poet I would have enough food in order to put a table from
enough food in order to put a table from
enough food in order to put a table from me and for my dog but you know what by
me and for my dog but you know what by
me and for my dog but you know what by quoting the American poet Dean Young he
quoting the American poet Dean Young he
quoting the American poet Dean Young he said that the world doesn’t change if
said that the world doesn’t change if
said that the world doesn’t change if you write one more poem or one less but
you write one more poem or one less but
you write one more poem or one less but the world would change if we all have a
the world would change if we all have a
the world would change if we all have a higher level of literacy and we start
higher level of literacy and we start
higher level of literacy and we start showing our empathy to other people I
was invited to Yale in u.s. Singapore
was invited to Yale in u.s. Singapore last week to give a reading and workshop
last week to give a reading and workshop
last week to give a reading and workshop I once told that there’s a school in
I once told that there’s a school in
I once told that there’s a school in Singapore called SATA School of the Arts
Singapore called SATA School of the Arts
Singapore called SATA School of the Arts Singapore it has started offering a an
Singapore it has started offering a an
Singapore it has started offering a an integrated six year Creative Writing IB
integrated six year Creative Writing IB
integrated six year Creative Writing IB Diploma students are asked to write
Diploma students are asked to write
Diploma students are asked to write fiction nonfiction poetry screenplays in
fiction nonfiction poetry screenplays in
fiction nonfiction poetry screenplays in addition to journalistic writing so no
addition to journalistic writing so no
addition to journalistic writing so no six years of creative writing training
six years of creative writing training
six years of creative writing training is unimaginable you know at least from
is unimaginable you know at least from
is unimaginable you know at least from the typical Hong Kong points of view
the typical Hong Kong points of view
the typical Hong Kong points of view right but what are people doing this
right but what are people doing this
right but what are people doing this because they can already see that a lot
because they can already see that a lot
because they can already see that a lot of our jobs these days can be taken up
of our jobs these days can be taken up
of our jobs these days can be taken up by AI artificial intelligence the
by AI artificial intelligence the
by AI artificial intelligence the machines can read the lines but they
machines can read the lines but they
machines can read the lines but they cannot read between the lines and they
cannot read between the lines and they
cannot read between the lines and they can absolutely not produce ambiguous
can absolutely not produce ambiguous
can absolutely not produce ambiguous language they cannot produce literature
language they cannot produce literature
language they cannot produce literature so ladies and gentlemen I’m not a
so ladies and gentlemen I’m not a
so ladies and gentlemen I’m not a storyteller but I just told you a story
storyteller but I just told you a story
storyteller but I just told you a story right I don’t want you to think my story
right I don’t want you to think my story
right I don’t want you to think my story is inspiring
is inspiring
is inspiring I don’t quite believe in that but I want
I don’t quite believe in that but I want
I don’t quite believe in that but I want you to take my story home with which you
you to take my story home with which you
you to take my story home with which you rewrite your own how are we going to do
rewrite your own how are we going to do
rewrite your own how are we going to do that go beyond the status quo get to
that go beyond the status quo get to
that go beyond the status quo get to know Hong Kong writers writing either in
know Hong Kong writers writing either in
know Hong Kong writers writing either in Chinese or English or both and hopefully
Chinese or English or both and hopefully
Chinese or English or both and hopefully become one of us thank you
”
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