I want to tell you about what happened in the classroom in the Wi-Fi free war
in the classroom in the Wi-Fi free war
in the classroom in the Wi-Fi free war zone where banter is a bully’s best
zone where banter is a bully’s best
zone where banter is a bully’s best bullet and battle cry jabs bounce off
bullet and battle cry jabs bounce off
bullet and battle cry jabs bounce off tripping tongues and your best bet is
tripping tongues and your best bet is
tripping tongues and your best bet is bite back or be broken by cheap shots
bite back or be broken by cheap shots
bite back or be broken by cheap shots and belittling and badly built word
and belittling and badly built word
and belittling and badly built word bombs boom and you’re beaten can I tell
bombs boom and you’re beaten can I tell
bombs boom and you’re beaten can I tell you what happened in the classroom in
you what happened in the classroom in
you what happened in the classroom in the post break times ooh well if the
the post break times ooh well if the
the post break times ooh well if the monkeys are suddenly free from their
monkeys are suddenly free from their
monkeys are suddenly free from their cages ripping up pages we printed and
cages ripping up pages we printed and
cages ripping up pages we printed and swinging from tales of too much sugar
swinging from tales of too much sugar
swinging from tales of too much sugar and not enough attention we’re best mate
and not enough attention we’re best mate
and not enough attention we’re best mate primates become incubated irritated
primates become incubated irritated
primates become incubated irritated inmates well we are suddenly keepers of
inmates well we are suddenly keepers of
inmates well we are suddenly keepers of the worst kind of secret so can I tell
the worst kind of secret so can I tell
the worst kind of secret so can I tell you what happened around the table a
you what happened around the table a
you what happened around the table a dozen doubters gathered student soldiers
dozen doubters gathered student soldiers
dozen doubters gathered student soldiers studded with swear words scars and packs
studded with swear words scars and packs
studded with swear words scars and packs of creatures wild enough to rip your
of creatures wild enough to rip your
of creatures wild enough to rip your smile off and swallow it whole we lured
smile off and swallow it whole we lured
smile off and swallow it whole we lured them in while nooses of words around
them in while nooses of words around
them in while nooses of words around their necks alphabetic traps for them to
their necks alphabetic traps for them to
their necks alphabetic traps for them to fall into unaware through rope-ladder
fall into unaware through rope-ladder
fall into unaware through rope-ladder metaphors in the trenches for them to
metaphors in the trenches for them to
metaphors in the trenches for them to climb out until they were ours and then
climb out until they were ours and then
climb out until they were ours and then it happened
it happened
it happened they sang tuneless songs in slang for us
they sang tuneless songs in slang for us
they sang tuneless songs in slang for us they listened to each other because
they listened to each other because
they listened to each other because their stories were worth listening to
their stories were worth listening to
their stories were worth listening to they let images fall into their laps and
they let images fall into their laps and
they let images fall into their laps and lock them up drinking poetry like
lock them up drinking poetry like
lock them up drinking poetry like lucozade buzzing off the energy of what
lucozade buzzing off the energy of what
lucozade buzzing off the energy of what they had created then the Bell went the
they had created then the Bell went the
they had created then the Bell went the cool to battle feeding time at the zoo
cool to battle feeding time at the zoo
cool to battle feeding time at the zoo and the soldiers rose from their chairs
and the soldiers rose from their chairs
and the soldiers rose from their chairs the chimps grabbed their bags and
the chimps grabbed their bags and
the chimps grabbed their bags and scampered off into the corridors and
scampered off into the corridors and
scampered off into the corridors and teeth were bared and bullets flew but I
teeth were bared and bullets flew but I
teeth were bared and bullets flew but I was there I saw it it happened the best
was there I saw it it happened the best
was there I saw it it happened the best kind of secret is the kind that is kept
kind of secret is the kind that is kept
kind of secret is the kind that is kept in the bottom of school bags in the
in the bottom of school bags in the
in the bottom of school bags in the scrape of plastic chairs and in the
scrape of plastic chairs and in the
scrape of plastic chairs and in the voices of students who despite what they
voices of students who despite what they
voices of students who despite what they say kind of sort of care my name is
say kind of sort of care my name is
say kind of sort of care my name is Sarah and I’m a prophet and a spoken
Sarah and I’m a prophet and a spoken
Sarah and I’m a prophet and a spoken word educator and until I handed my
word educator and until I handed my
word educator and until I handed my dissertation in this morning a master’s
dissertation in this morning a master’s
dissertation in this morning a master’s student
and before I was a poet I was an actor
and before I was a poet I was an actor and before I was an actor I was training
and before I was an actor I was training
and before I was an actor I was training here to be an actor and before that I
here to be an actor and before that I
here to be an actor and before that I was a secondary school student and when
was a secondary school student and when
was a secondary school student and when I was at school something really really
I was at school something really really
I was at school something really really bad happened to my family when I was 12
bad happened to my family when I was 12
bad happened to my family when I was 12 my father died now that’s a statement
my father died now that’s a statement
my father died now that’s a statement I’ve got really good at saying but when
I’ve got really good at saying but when
I’ve got really good at saying but when I was younger that sentence would catch
I was younger that sentence would catch
I was younger that sentence would catch him my throat stick its arms out and
him my throat stick its arms out and
him my throat stick its arms out and adamantly refused to come out I found it
adamantly refused to come out I found it
adamantly refused to come out I found it really really difficult to talk to
really really difficult to talk to
really really difficult to talk to anyone about what had happened on the
anyone about what had happened on the
anyone about what had happened on the day he died I wrote a poem about it
day he died I wrote a poem about it
day he died I wrote a poem about it because I was that kind of kid it’s a
because I was that kind of kid it’s a
because I was that kind of kid it’s a really terrible poem but it was slightly
really terrible poem but it was slightly
really terrible poem but it was slightly easier to say than what I was feeling
easier to say than what I was feeling
easier to say than what I was feeling which brings me to what I am now which
which brings me to what I am now which
which brings me to what I am now which is a full-time poet also a sentence I
is a full-time poet also a sentence I
is a full-time poet also a sentence I never thought I’d be able to say poetry
never thought I’d be able to say poetry
never thought I’d be able to say poetry allows me to take control of my
allows me to take control of my
allows me to take control of my experience and repurpose it in a
experience and repurpose it in a
experience and repurpose it in a creative way to distance myself from it
creative way to distance myself from it
creative way to distance myself from it as soon as you introduce rhyme or rhythm
as soon as you introduce rhyme or rhythm
as soon as you introduce rhyme or rhythm or character to a difficult experience
or character to a difficult experience
or character to a difficult experience it’s harder to feel like it’s something
it’s harder to feel like it’s something
it’s harder to feel like it’s something that happened to you and easier to see
that happened to you and easier to see
that happened to you and easier to see objectively like a story and I don’t
objectively like a story and I don’t
objectively like a story and I don’t know about you but I find stories a lot
know about you but I find stories a lot
know about you but I find stories a lot easier to tell them the truth
easier to tell them the truth
easier to tell them the truth poetry allows me to be the most
poetry allows me to be the most
poetry allows me to be the most articulate version of myself often about
articulate version of myself often about
articulate version of myself often about the things that are otherwise too hard
the things that are otherwise too hard
the things that are otherwise too hard to talk about now a big part of being a
to talk about now a big part of being a
to talk about now a big part of being a poet for me is facilitating other people
poet for me is facilitating other people
poet for me is facilitating other people in telling their stories I’ve just
in telling their stories I’ve just
in telling their stories I’ve just finished a two-year placement as spoken
finished a two-year placement as spoken
finished a two-year placement as spoken word educator at Lamaze school in Layton
word educator at Lamaze school in Layton
word educator at Lamaze school in Layton East London now this particular school
East London now this particular school
East London now this particular school has high numbers of students for whom
has high numbers of students for whom
has high numbers of students for whom English is an additional language
English is an additional language
English is an additional language many of them have just arrived in the UK
many of them have just arrived in the UK
many of them have just arrived in the UK with harrowing stories of fleeing
with harrowing stories of fleeing
with harrowing stories of fleeing war-torn countries caught in their
war-torn countries caught in their
war-torn countries caught in their throats and a huge percentage of the
throats and a huge percentage of the
throats and a huge percentage of the pupils are classified as underprivileged
pupils are classified as underprivileged
pupils are classified as underprivileged as I’m sure you’re aware schools across
as I’m sure you’re aware schools across
as I’m sure you’re aware schools across the country are sinking from similar
the country are sinking from similar
the country are sinking from similar burdens and government lifejackets are
burdens and government lifejackets are
burdens and government lifejackets are few and far between these are the kind
few and far between these are the kind
few and far between these are the kind of schools that really need work like
of schools that really need work like
of schools that really need work like this and the kind of schools that are
this and the kind of schools that are
this and the kind of schools that are finding it harder and harder to afford
finding it harder and harder to afford
finding it harder and harder to afford it
it
it so what did my role look like well
so what did my role look like well
so what did my role look like well essentially by working two days a week
essentially by working two days a week
essentially by working two days a week as a permanent creative force within the
as a permanent creative force within the
as a permanent creative force within the English department I bridged the gap
English department I bridged the gap
English department I bridged the gap between visiting poet and
between visiting poet and
between visiting poet and I worked alongside the curriculum to
I worked alongside the curriculum to
I worked alongside the curriculum to encourage confidence creativity and
encourage confidence creativity and
encourage confidence creativity and communication through poetry workshops
communication through poetry workshops
communication through poetry workshops one-on-one support projects and poetry
one-on-one support projects and poetry
one-on-one support projects and poetry slams I also led the GCSE unseen poetry
slams I also led the GCSE unseen poetry
slams I also led the GCSE unseen poetry unit for year 11 and nurtured a
unit for year 11 and nurtured a
unit for year 11 and nurtured a school-wide culture of spoken word now
school-wide culture of spoken word now
school-wide culture of spoken word now getting kids to write their feelings
getting kids to write their feelings
getting kids to write their feelings down is nothing new it’s therapeutic we
down is nothing new it’s therapeutic we
down is nothing new it’s therapeutic we know that but writing something down and
know that but writing something down and
know that but writing something down and saying something out loud are two
saying something out loud are two
saying something out loud are two completely different things and as much
completely different things and as much
completely different things and as much as I love writing I don’t actually
as I love writing I don’t actually
as I love writing I don’t actually approach this work as a writer I like to
approach this work as a writer I like to
approach this work as a writer I like to think of myself more like a trained
think of myself more like a trained
think of myself more like a trained actor with a terrible writing habit the
actor with a terrible writing habit the
actor with a terrible writing habit the theatre practitioners Jacques Lecoq
theatre practitioners Jacques Lecoq
theatre practitioners Jacques Lecoq admits that he came to theatre by way of
admits that he came to theatre by way of
admits that he came to theatre by way of sport the geometry of the parallel bars
sport the geometry of the parallel bars
sport the geometry of the parallel bars at his local gym and the movement of the
at his local gym and the movement of the
at his local gym and the movement of the body through space transported him from
body through space transported him from
body through space transported him from one form of expression to another in
one form of expression to another in
one form of expression to another in turn I come to poetry by way of theater
turn I come to poetry by way of theater
turn I come to poetry by way of theater when I approach a poem I do so in the
when I approach a poem I do so in the
when I approach a poem I do so in the same way that I’d go about creating a
same way that I’d go about creating a
same way that I’d go about creating a play or tackling a monologue in simple
play or tackling a monologue in simple
play or tackling a monologue in simple terms I want to find a truthful and
terms I want to find a truthful and
terms I want to find a truthful and interesting way to express my intention
interesting way to express my intention
interesting way to express my intention I want to use language economically to
I want to use language economically to
I want to use language economically to its full potential
its full potential
its full potential I want to entertain and I am at all
I want to entertain and I am at all
I want to entertain and I am at all times completely aware of the audience
times completely aware of the audience
times completely aware of the audience I’ve labeled my approach as a pedagogy
I’ve labeled my approach as a pedagogy
I’ve labeled my approach as a pedagogy of performance where equal value is
of performance where equal value is
of performance where equal value is placed on both the written and the
placed on both the written and the
placed on both the written and the spoken word because just speaking with
spoken word because just speaking with
spoken word because just speaking with no parameters just improvising can be
no parameters just improvising can be
no parameters just improvising can be scary sometimes it certainly was for me
scary sometimes it certainly was for me
scary sometimes it certainly was for me whereas taking the time to construct
whereas taking the time to construct
whereas taking the time to construct something meaningful and then the act of
something meaningful and then the act of
something meaningful and then the act of reading it out can for some people be
reading it out can for some people be
reading it out can for some people be extraordinarily liberating and the
extraordinarily liberating and the
extraordinarily liberating and the results are transformative take the two
results are transformative take the two
results are transformative take the two softly spoken thirteen-year-old Muslim
softly spoken thirteen-year-old Muslim
softly spoken thirteen-year-old Muslim girls who stood up in front of their
girls who stood up in front of their
girls who stood up in front of their male-dominated class and performed
male-dominated class and performed
male-dominated class and performed powerful poems about feminism or the boy
powerful poems about feminism or the boy
powerful poems about feminism or the boy at the year seven slam who spoke out
at the year seven slam who spoke out
at the year seven slam who spoke out about bullying with his perpetrators in
about bullying with his perpetrators in
about bullying with his perpetrators in the audience to an entire year group
the audience to an entire year group
the audience to an entire year group applauding his bravery or the 15 year
applauding his bravery or the 15 year
applauding his bravery or the 15 year old refugee who traveled from Syria to
old refugee who traveled from Syria to
old refugee who traveled from Syria to London on his own and was desperate for
London on his own and was desperate for
London on his own and was desperate for a safe space to simply share his story I
a safe space to simply share his story I
a safe space to simply share his story I could go on and on about all the
could go on and on about all the
could go on and on about all the humbling moments but I thought it was
humbling moments but I thought it was
humbling moments but I thought it was better to let some of the students speak
better to let some of the students speak
better to let some of the students speak for them
for them
for them this is a poem written by a group of
this is a poem written by a group of
this is a poem written by a group of year nine students in a workshop all of
year nine students in a workshop all of
year nine students in a workshop all of whom have English as an additional
whom have English as an additional
whom have English as an additional language and it was written about a
language and it was written about a
language and it was written about a fellow classmate who is illiterate even
fellow classmate who is illiterate even
fellow classmate who is illiterate even in his own language it’s based on the
in his own language it’s based on the
in his own language it’s based on the shape of his name in Pashto script my
shape of his name in Pashto script my
shape of his name in Pashto script my name is a nervous tornado destroying the
name is a nervous tornado destroying the
name is a nervous tornado destroying the city of Kabul
city of Kabul
city of Kabul my name is a tired gray Jeep driving
my name is a tired gray Jeep driving
my name is a tired gray Jeep driving from Afghanistan to London my name is
from Afghanistan to London my name is
from Afghanistan to London my name is the Khalifa tower in Dubai too rich a
the Khalifa tower in Dubai too rich a
the Khalifa tower in Dubai too rich a beautiful triangle in the ocean of sky
beautiful triangle in the ocean of sky
beautiful triangle in the ocean of sky my name is a happy smile stretching
my name is a happy smile stretching
my name is a happy smile stretching across London tower blocks my name is a
across London tower blocks my name is a
across London tower blocks my name is a question mark honestly I wish I could
question mark honestly I wish I could
question mark honestly I wish I could show you the size of his smile when he
show you the size of his smile when he
show you the size of his smile when he realized we’d constructed something that
realized we’d constructed something that
realized we’d constructed something that celebrated his culture and identity this
celebrated his culture and identity this
celebrated his culture and identity this is one of a handful of poems that was
is one of a handful of poems that was
is one of a handful of poems that was published alongside mine written by a
published alongside mine written by a
published alongside mine written by a student in my newest collection louder
student in my newest collection louder
student in my newest collection louder than words
than words
than words seeing their words in print gave these
seeing their words in print gave these
seeing their words in print gave these students a sense of achievement that
students a sense of achievement that
students a sense of achievement that they just don’t normally get especially
they just don’t normally get especially
they just don’t normally get especially if they’re struggling academically it
if they’re struggling academically it
if they’re struggling academically it gave them a chance to see what’s
gave them a chance to see what’s
gave them a chance to see what’s possible that their voices are important
possible that their voices are important
possible that their voices are important and that their stories are valid sadly
and that their stories are valid sadly
and that their stories are valid sadly the current system doesn’t cater for
the current system doesn’t cater for
the current system doesn’t cater for everyone creativity is being weeded out
everyone creativity is being weeded out
everyone creativity is being weeded out of the curriculum and there is a
of the curriculum and there is a
of the curriculum and there is a crippling emphasis being placed on
crippling emphasis being placed on
crippling emphasis being placed on grades and numbers and no alternative
grades and numbers and no alternative
grades and numbers and no alternative being offered for those who don’t
being offered for those who don’t
being offered for those who don’t necessarily excel it traditionally
necessarily excel it traditionally
necessarily excel it traditionally academic subject in an ideal world there
academic subject in an ideal world there
academic subject in an ideal world there would be a poet or creative force within
would be a poet or creative force within
would be a poet or creative force within every school there specifically to help
every school there specifically to help
every school there specifically to help young people express themselves and
young people express themselves and
young people express themselves and develop transferable skills that they
develop transferable skills that they
develop transferable skills that they wouldn’t otherwise access the current
wouldn’t otherwise access the current
wouldn’t otherwise access the current model is not representative of the real
model is not representative of the real
model is not representative of the real world where you simply won’t succeed at
world where you simply won’t succeed at
world where you simply won’t succeed at a job interview without the skills to
a job interview without the skills to
a job interview without the skills to talk about yourself and your experience
talk about yourself and your experience
talk about yourself and your experience if favors those whose parents are able
if favors those whose parents are able
if favors those whose parents are able to help them with presentation and
to help them with presentation and
to help them with presentation and communication skills outside of school
communication skills outside of school
communication skills outside of school it is elitist and it shouldn’t be spoken
it is elitist and it shouldn’t be spoken
it is elitist and it shouldn’t be spoken word isn’t for everyone
word isn’t for everyone
word isn’t for everyone but it’s often for those who don’t
but it’s often for those who don’t
but it’s often for those who don’t expect it to be sometimes simply giving
expect it to be sometimes simply giving
expect it to be sometimes simply giving a kid a chance to be heard is enough to
a kid a chance to be heard is enough to
a kid a chance to be heard is enough to unlock whatever was making them a
unlock whatever was making them a
unlock whatever was making them a disruptive force in the classroom and it
disruptive force in the classroom and it
disruptive force in the classroom and it also gives teachers
also gives teachers
also gives teachers insight into the kids they teach that
insight into the kids they teach that
insight into the kids they teach that they just don’t get from essay answers
they just don’t get from essay answers
they just don’t get from essay answers this is what they teach me today I
this is what they teach me today I
this is what they teach me today I learned that the boy with the untucked
learned that the boy with the untucked
learned that the boy with the untucked shirt feels more than he lets on all he
shirt feels more than he lets on all he
shirt feels more than he lets on all he told me is that home is a basketball
told me is that home is a basketball
told me is that home is a basketball court all he said is that he gets
court all he said is that he gets
court all he said is that he gets bounced around one too many times
bounced around one too many times
bounced around one too many times all he admitted is that the crowd
all he admitted is that the crowd
all he admitted is that the crowd doesn’t support the team they shift
doesn’t support the team they shift
doesn’t support the team they shift themselves too loudly it seems today I
themselves too loudly it seems today I
themselves too loudly it seems today I learned that the girl at the back of the
learned that the girl at the back of the
learned that the girl at the back of the class is struggling all she told me is
class is struggling all she told me is
class is struggling all she told me is that she is dirt walked all over she dug
that she is dirt walked all over she dug
that she is dirt walked all over she dug her eyes deep into the earth when she
her eyes deep into the earth when she
her eyes deep into the earth when she told me this it didn’t muddy her
told me this it didn’t muddy her
told me this it didn’t muddy her sentiment she is sediment sewing her
sentiment she is sediment sewing her
sentiment she is sediment sewing her seeds waiting to grow out of all of this
seeds waiting to grow out of all of this
seeds waiting to grow out of all of this out in the corridor Toby becomes a
out in the corridor Toby becomes a
out in the corridor Toby becomes a pressure cooker right at my feet takes
pressure cooker right at my feet takes
pressure cooker right at my feet takes four teachers
four teachers
four teachers untrained in this to become a
untrained in this to become a
untrained in this to become a straitjacket today I learned that in
straitjacket today I learned that in
straitjacket today I learned that in this sometimes classroom sometimes
this sometimes classroom sometimes
this sometimes classroom sometimes waiting room there is a table of
waiting room there is a table of
waiting room there is a table of children whose family are airmail
children whose family are airmail
children whose family are airmail postage stamps and they have forgotten
postage stamps and they have forgotten
postage stamps and they have forgotten the address or maybe just the language
the address or maybe just the language
the address or maybe just the language it is written just beyond the door the
it is written just beyond the door the
it is written just beyond the door the only way Toby can explain why he is the
only way Toby can explain why he is the
only way Toby can explain why he is the way he is is by turning his tonsils into
way he is is by turning his tonsils into
way he is is by turning his tonsils into razor blades and his feet into catapults
razor blades and his feet into catapults
razor blades and his feet into catapults all that he told us is that his hurt is
all that he told us is that his hurt is
all that he told us is that his hurt is so deep we should not try to help in
so deep we should not try to help in
so deep we should not try to help in case we fall into all that he showed us
case we fall into all that he showed us
case we fall into all that he showed us is that the floor will not discriminate
is that the floor will not discriminate
is that the floor will not discriminate between stamps of feet and those have
between stamps of feet and those have
between stamps of feet and those have heads all that he meant remains
heads all that he meant remains
heads all that he meant remains encrypted in his kicks the kid who sits
encrypted in his kicks the kid who sits
encrypted in his kicks the kid who sits on her own tells me the clouds are an
on her own tells me the clouds are an
on her own tells me the clouds are an army waiting to attack
army waiting to attack
army waiting to attack most imagine marshmallows I remember all
most imagine marshmallows I remember all
most imagine marshmallows I remember all too well what it felt like when it was
too well what it felt like when it was
too well what it felt like when it was always just about to rain I believe the
always just about to rain I believe the
always just about to rain I believe the current curriculum is ill-equipped to
current curriculum is ill-equipped to
current curriculum is ill-equipped to deal with this generation and the
deal with this generation and the
deal with this generation and the specific issues and tensions they’re
specific issues and tensions they’re
specific issues and tensions they’re faced with like Trump or brexit or the
faced with like Trump or brexit or the
faced with like Trump or brexit or the refugee crisis which I’m sure is far
refugee crisis which I’m sure is far
refugee crisis which I’m sure is far more real in an East London classroom
more real in an East London classroom
more real in an East London classroom than it is in Westminster this work
than it is in Westminster this work
than it is in Westminster this work helps to productively absorb the trauma
helps to productively absorb the trauma
helps to productively absorb the trauma of it all and with its inherently
of it all and with its inherently
of it all and with its inherently political undertones gives them the
political undertones gives them the
political undertones gives them the tools to protest and not to brag or
tools to protest and not to brag or
tools to protest and not to brag or anything but spoken word is cool
anything but spoken word is cool
anything but spoken word is cool like it’s in touch with current friends
like it’s in touch with current friends
like it’s in touch with current friends and until they stop teaching poetry by
and until they stop teaching poetry by
and until they stop teaching poetry by dead white guys in the syllabus this
dead white guys in the syllabus this
dead white guys in the syllabus this work is bringing 2017 into the classroom
work is bringing 2017 into the classroom
work is bringing 2017 into the classroom kids love rap and they connect way more
kids love rap and they connect way more
kids love rap and they connect way more with the idea of creating lyrics or slam
with the idea of creating lyrics or slam
with the idea of creating lyrics or slam poems than they do with writing flowery
poems than they do with writing flowery
poems than they do with writing flowery poetry as it’s often perceived this
poetry as it’s often perceived this
poetry as it’s often perceived this teaches them without teaching them
teaches them without teaching them
teaches them without teaching them developing skills in literacy rhetoric
developing skills in literacy rhetoric
developing skills in literacy rhetoric and even textual analysis without them
and even textual analysis without them
and even textual analysis without them even knowing and it gives them a
even knowing and it gives them a
even knowing and it gives them a positive role model with a career in the
positive role model with a career in the
positive role model with a career in the arts giving them hope that if they’re
arts giving them hope that if they’re
arts giving them hope that if they’re not academic it’s still more than
not academic it’s still more than
not academic it’s still more than possible for them to forge a successful
possible for them to forge a successful
possible for them to forge a successful path for themselves alternative
path for themselves alternative
path for themselves alternative approaches to education are needed now
approaches to education are needed now
approaches to education are needed now more than ever the current system is
more than ever the current system is
more than ever the current system is failing the most vulnerable in our
failing the most vulnerable in our
failing the most vulnerable in our society instead of celebrating their
society instead of celebrating their
society instead of celebrating their resilience individuality and
resilience individuality and
resilience individuality and imaginations and trust me these kids
imaginations and trust me these kids
imaginations and trust me these kids have that in abundance this work
have that in abundance this work
have that in abundance this work encourages young people to take agency
encourages young people to take agency
encourages young people to take agency over their experiences
over their experiences
over their experiences it shows teachers that there are
it shows teachers that there are
it shows teachers that there are creative geniuses in their classrooms
creative geniuses in their classrooms
creative geniuses in their classrooms that they haven’t noticed because maybe
that they haven’t noticed because maybe
that they haven’t noticed because maybe their handwriting is terrible
their handwriting is terrible
their handwriting is terrible spoken word education gives a voice to
spoken word education gives a voice to
spoken word education gives a voice to the voiceless I’d like to end this talk
the voiceless I’d like to end this talk
the voiceless I’d like to end this talk in the same way that I began with a poem
in the same way that I began with a poem
in the same way that I began with a poem this is a poem that I often deliver at
this is a poem that I often deliver at
this is a poem that I often deliver at the beginning of a workshop or class I
the beginning of a workshop or class I
the beginning of a workshop or class I don’t believe in getting young people do
don’t believe in getting young people do
don’t believe in getting young people do to do something that I’m not prepared to
to do something that I’m not prepared to
to do something that I’m not prepared to do myself by showing them I can be
do myself by showing them I can be
do myself by showing them I can be vulnerable
vulnerable
vulnerable I give them permission to do the same
I give them permission to do the same
I give them permission to do the same this poem is called present I keep my
this poem is called present I keep my
this poem is called present I keep my father in the folds of his knitwear I
father in the folds of his knitwear I
father in the folds of his knitwear I keep November in the neckline and his
keep November in the neckline and his
keep November in the neckline and his surname in the color you cannot get a
surname in the color you cannot get a
surname in the color you cannot get a darker green and still call it green
darker green and still call it green
darker green and still call it green I remember when I’d watched my mother
I remember when I’d watched my mother
I remember when I’d watched my mother sew his name into my school uniform head
sew his name into my school uniform head
sew his name into my school uniform head bent in concentration patience threaded
bent in concentration patience threaded
bent in concentration patience threaded into her focus the likes of which I
into her focus the likes of which I
into her focus the likes of which I wouldn’t know for years I wore his name
wouldn’t know for years I wore his name
wouldn’t know for years I wore his name with pride carved it cursive Leon to
with pride carved it cursive Leon to
with pride carved it cursive Leon to exercise books answered to it in the
exercise books answered to it in the
exercise books answered to it in the register always thankful to be near the
register always thankful to be near the
register always thankful to be near the front never waiting like the woods or
front never waiting like the woods or
front never waiting like the woods or the Thompsons for my turn to come around
the Thompsons for my turn to come around
the Thompsons for my turn to come around it went at concern bagri brodo Carol
it went at concern bagri brodo Carol
it went at concern bagri brodo Carol Delaney
Delaney
Delaney Freitas green present I would call it to
Freitas green present I would call it to
Freitas green present I would call it to the classroom sometimes we would joke
the classroom sometimes we would joke
the classroom sometimes we would joke shout things like Christmas tree or brew
shout things like Christmas tree or brew
shout things like Christmas tree or brew Dolf not understanding that the game was
Dolf not understanding that the game was
Dolf not understanding that the game was not to name festive things that present
not to name festive things that present
not to name festive things that present ment here that we existed that we were
ment here that we existed that we were
ment here that we existed that we were proof of us introductions whence are
proof of us introductions whence are
proof of us introductions whence are enou eight screen though II just like
enou eight screen though II just like
enou eight screen though II just like the color his name would sit on my
the color his name would sit on my
the color his name would sit on my tongue heavy like extravagant family
tongue heavy like extravagant family
tongue heavy like extravagant family dinners and Christmas when everyone was
dinners and Christmas when everyone was
dinners and Christmas when everyone was present now it lies printed on my bank
present now it lies printed on my bank
present now it lies printed on my bank card like a secret it is passports and
card like a secret it is passports and
card like a secret it is passports and pay slips the other me is self-employed
pay slips the other me is self-employed
pay slips the other me is self-employed I only use it when I have to like tax
I only use it when I have to like tax
I only use it when I have to like tax avoidance of a pass that no longer fits
avoidance of a pass that no longer fits
avoidance of a pass that no longer fits each November I pull my father out from
each November I pull my father out from
each November I pull my father out from his drawer dust off another year without
his drawer dust off another year without
his drawer dust off another year without him and pull his name over my head
him and pull his name over my head
him and pull his name over my head sometimes his jumper is a hug sometimes
sometimes his jumper is a hug sometimes
sometimes his jumper is a hug sometimes it is strength and sometimes just a
it is strength and sometimes just a
it is strength and sometimes just a vintage item for people to blindly
vintage item for people to blindly
vintage item for people to blindly compliment unaware that it is not an
compliment unaware that it is not an
compliment unaware that it is not an attempt at fashion I tell them it was a
attempt at fashion I tell them it was a
attempt at fashion I tell them it was a present that it belonged to someone else
present that it belonged to someone else
present that it belonged to someone else before me that it is proof that he was I
before me that it is proof that he was I
before me that it is proof that he was I wear him through the month he stopped
wear him through the month he stopped
wear him through the month he stopped existing like armor leather shroud like
existing like armor leather shroud like
existing like armor leather shroud like evidence his jumper is my mood that
evidence his jumper is my mood that
evidence his jumper is my mood that month you cannot get a darker green and
month you cannot get a darker green and
month you cannot get a darker green and still call it green I wear him as we
still call it green I wear him as we
still call it green I wear him as we approach another Christmas without his
approach another Christmas without his
approach another Christmas without his presence to ward it off like Scrooge
presence to ward it off like Scrooge
presence to ward it off like Scrooge like Grinch I steal back the years I
like Grinch I steal back the years I
like Grinch I steal back the years I steal back my name I wear it for a while
steal back my name I wear it for a while
steal back my name I wear it for a while try it on for size
try it on for size
try it on for size feels like my mom has sewn me into it
feels like my mom has sewn me into it
feels like my mom has sewn me into it and with her patience I make it through
and with her patience I make it through
and with her patience I make it through the month then he goes back in his
the month then he goes back in his
the month then he goes back in his drawer neatly folded waiting like the
drawer neatly folded waiting like the
drawer neatly folded waiting like the woods for his name to be cooled I keep
woods for his name to be cooled I keep
woods for his name to be cooled I keep him waiting I keep him in the fold of
him waiting I keep him in the fold of
him waiting I keep him in the fold of his knitwear I keep November in the
his knitwear I keep November in the
his knitwear I keep November in the neckline and his surname in the color
neckline and his surname in the color
neckline and his surname in the color thank you very much for listening
thank you very much for listening
thank you very much for listening [Applause]
”
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