[Applause] imagine you’re in a music class I pass
imagine you’re in a music class I pass
imagine you’re in a music class I pass out sheet music I teach you about notes
out sheet music I teach you about notes
out sheet music I teach you about notes octaves and instruments pitch and tone
octaves and instruments pitch and tone
octaves and instruments pitch and tone we discussed time signatures and
we discussed time signatures and
we discussed time signatures and repeating Coda’s sonatas and rap all
repeating Coda’s sonatas and rap all
repeating Coda’s sonatas and rap all semester I tell you music is amazing I
semester I tell you music is amazing I
semester I tell you music is amazing I proclaim certain melodies bring people
proclaim certain melodies bring people
proclaim certain melodies bring people to tears I tell you how much I love
to tears I tell you how much I love
to tears I tell you how much I love music but I never play you a single song
music but I never play you a single song
music but I never play you a single song I only let you write and read music on a
I only let you write and read music on a
I only let you write and read music on a page I never let you strum a guitar or
page I never let you strum a guitar or
page I never let you strum a guitar or beat a drum
beat a drum
beat a drum we never sing I never offer you the
we never sing I never offer you the
we never sing I never offer you the experience of music and then I wonder
experience of music and then I wonder
experience of music and then I wonder why don’t you like music I say why don’t
why don’t you like music I say why don’t
why don’t you like music I say why don’t you get it
you get it
you get it you look frustrated this brings me to
you look frustrated this brings me to
you look frustrated this brings me to poetry last year poet Ben Lerner
poetry last year poet Ben Lerner
poetry last year poet Ben Lerner published a book titled the hatred of
published a book titled the hatred of
published a book titled the hatred of poetry clearly poetry has problems
poetry clearly poetry has problems
poetry clearly poetry has problems Lerner explains one many more people
Lerner explains one many more people
Lerner explains one many more people agree they hate poetry then can agree
agree they hate poetry then can agree
agree they hate poetry then can agree what poetry is what is poetry is it that
what poetry is what is poetry is it that
what poetry is what is poetry is it that hard to define or enjoy
hard to define or enjoy
hard to define or enjoy is it like music is the experience
is it like music is the experience
is it like music is the experience essential to its understanding there are
essential to its understanding there are
essential to its understanding there are foundational poetic experiences yes
foundational poetic experiences yes
foundational poetic experiences yes experiences you did not receive in
experiences you did not receive in
experiences you did not receive in school because these poetic glimmers are
school because these poetic glimmers are
school because these poetic glimmers are not testable and therefore you are not
not testable and therefore you are not
not testable and therefore you are not taught them I know this because I taught
taught them I know this because I taught
taught them I know this because I taught boring confusing bad poetry lessons and
boring confusing bad poetry lessons and
boring confusing bad poetry lessons and watched as they failed the wisdom of our
watched as they failed the wisdom of our
watched as they failed the wisdom of our greatest poets welcome to the University
greatest poets welcome to the University
greatest poets welcome to the University of Denver fall of 2015 I thought I had
of Denver fall of 2015 I thought I had
of Denver fall of 2015 I thought I had made it I survived a summer of 10 our
made it I survived a summer of 10 our
made it I survived a summer of 10 our study days past my comprehensive exams I
study days past my comprehensive exams I
study days past my comprehensive exams I was finally finished with my own
was finally finished with my own
was finally finished with my own coursework and for the first time in
coursework and for the first time in
coursework and for the first time in nearly a decade of graduate study I was
nearly a decade of graduate study I was
nearly a decade of graduate study I was going to teach an elective course for
going to teach an elective course for
going to teach an elective course for once my students chose to study the art
once my students chose to study the art
once my students chose to study the art of poetry they were gonna like poems and
of poetry they were gonna like poems and
of poetry they were gonna like poems and I had built a syllabus of life-changing
I had built a syllabus of life-changing
I had built a syllabus of life-changing poems that afternoon when I walked into
poems that afternoon when I walked into
poems that afternoon when I walked into the classroom I truly believed I had a
the classroom I truly believed I had a
the classroom I truly believed I had a gift to give that semester I would
gift to give that semester I would
gift to give that semester I would change my students life but here’s what
change my students life but here’s what
change my students life but here’s what changed mine they didn’t care they
changed mine they didn’t care they
changed mine they didn’t care they didn’t want my gift and although they
didn’t want my gift and although they
didn’t want my gift and although they had elected to take my course they
had elected to take my course they
had elected to take my course they actually wanted to watch house of cards
actually wanted to watch house of cards
actually wanted to watch house of cards with one ear button flirt eat burritos
with one ear button flirt eat burritos
with one ear button flirt eat burritos browse Facebook whisper sleep and eight
browse Facebook whisper sleep and eight
browse Facebook whisper sleep and eight weeks later once again I had become a
weeks later once again I had become a
weeks later once again I had become a poetry which leading a silent and
poetry which leading a silent and
poetry which leading a silent and miserable classroom but this semester
miserable classroom but this semester
miserable classroom but this semester was extra bad no one did the reading and
was extra bad no one did the reading and
was extra bad no one did the reading and I felt forced to give a pop quiz at the
I felt forced to give a pop quiz at the
I felt forced to give a pop quiz at the start of every class then I would braid
start of every class then I would braid
start of every class then I would braid those quizzes on the spot and kick
those quizzes on the spot and kick
those quizzes on the spot and kick everyone out of class except to studious
everyone out of class except to studious
everyone out of class except to studious English nerds each night on the drive
English nerds each night on the drive
English nerds each night on the drive home I would cry then I would lie on my
home I would cry then I would lie on my
home I would cry then I would lie on my apartment floor and eat chips and cry
apartment floor and eat chips and cry
apartment floor and eat chips and cry I googled new career options I took
I googled new career options I took
I googled new career options I took online strengths finder tests what’s a
online strengths finder tests what’s a
online strengths finder tests what’s a few more years of school I solved
few more years of school I solved
few more years of school I solved jealous of my sister who was becoming a
jealous of my sister who was becoming a
jealous of my sister who was becoming a lawyer I wondered if I even liked poetry
lawyer I wondered if I even liked poetry
lawyer I wondered if I even liked poetry I wondered why I have made such a
I wondered why I have made such a
I wondered why I have made such a terrible life mistake becoming a poet
terrible life mistake becoming a poet
terrible life mistake becoming a poet why didn’t my parents stop me why did I
why didn’t my parents stop me why did I
why didn’t my parents stop me why did I get the lucky elective class containing
get the lucky elective class containing
get the lucky elective class containing 11 fraternity bros why this fall was
11 fraternity bros why this fall was
11 fraternity bros why this fall was supposed to be different looking back on
supposed to be different looking back on
supposed to be different looking back on it I can see that my life breakdown
it I can see that my life breakdown
it I can see that my life breakdown wasn’t about some students who didn’t do
wasn’t about some students who didn’t do
wasn’t about some students who didn’t do their reading but they were Mearing back
their reading but they were Mearing back
their reading but they were Mearing back to me what it really was through the
to me what it really was through the
to me what it really was through the course of my education I had begun to
course of my education I had begun to
course of my education I had begun to believe poetry was valueless this was
believe poetry was valueless this was
believe poetry was valueless this was pretty terrifying I had spent my entire
pretty terrifying I had spent my entire
pretty terrifying I had spent my entire professional development on the study of
professional development on the study of
professional development on the study of poems poetry was my identity income
poems poetry was my identity income
poems poetry was my identity income well-being and honestly this was
well-being and honestly this was
well-being and honestly this was something I was insecure about did I
something I was insecure about did I
something I was insecure about did I have any real
have any real
have any real value when I would sit next to a
value when I would sit next to a
value when I would sit next to a stranger on a plane or converse with
stranger on a plane or converse with
stranger on a plane or converse with someone standing in a line the moment I
someone standing in a line the moment I
someone standing in a line the moment I told them I was getting a PhD in poetry
told them I was getting a PhD in poetry
told them I was getting a PhD in poetry they would all get a weird face and say
they would all get a weird face and say
they would all get a weird face and say the exact same thing what are you gonna
the exact same thing what are you gonna
the exact same thing what are you gonna do with that teat when was the last time
do with that teat when was the last time
do with that teat when was the last time you purchased a book of contemporary
you purchased a book of contemporary
you purchased a book of contemporary poetry yeah I was gonna teach but at
poetry yeah I was gonna teach but at
poetry yeah I was gonna teach but at that moment I hated teaching and the
that moment I hated teaching and the
that moment I hated teaching and the harder I tried to excite or explain
harder I tried to excite or explain
harder I tried to excite or explain poetry to my students the more blank
poetry to my students the more blank
poetry to my students the more blank stares I met if you think taking a
stares I met if you think taking a
stares I met if you think taking a poetry class is bad
poetry class is bad
poetry class is bad try leading one why couldn’t I convey
try leading one why couldn’t I convey
try leading one why couldn’t I convey everything I understood and loved why
everything I understood and loved why
everything I understood and loved why was I sailing miserably that leads me to
was I sailing miserably that leads me to
was I sailing miserably that leads me to this moment standing in front of you
this moment standing in front of you
this moment standing in front of you wanting to tell you what feels like a
wanting to tell you what feels like a
wanting to tell you what feels like a lost secret a hidden gem something the
lost secret a hidden gem something the
lost secret a hidden gem something the poets know keep to themselves and use in
poets know keep to themselves and use in
poets know keep to themselves and use in their life but that’s something school
their life but that’s something school
their life but that’s something school silences poet Robin blazer of the San
silences poet Robin blazer of the San
silences poet Robin blazer of the San Francisco Renaissance explains the
Francisco Renaissance explains the
Francisco Renaissance explains the problem we wind up at the University of
problem we wind up at the University of
problem we wind up at the University of California you can’t use the word spirit
California you can’t use the word spirit
California you can’t use the word spirit soul any of those things because they
soul any of those things because they
soul any of those things because they belong to a non rationalist view now
belong to a non rationalist view now
belong to a non rationalist view now it’s very hard to understand what that
it’s very hard to understand what that
it’s very hard to understand what that means except you weren’t supposed to use
means except you weren’t supposed to use
means except you weren’t supposed to use them contemporary poet
them contemporary poet
them contemporary poet Nathaniel Mackay explains today’s
Nathaniel Mackay explains today’s
Nathaniel Mackay explains today’s problem like this we live at a time in
problem like this we live at a time in
problem like this we live at a time in history here in the United States in
history here in the United States in
history here in the United States in which nothing exists unless you can see
which nothing exists unless you can see
which nothing exists unless you can see it touch it smell it or hold it in your
it touch it smell it or hold it in your
it touch it smell it or hold it in your hands Sol doesn’t exist in that
hands Sol doesn’t exist in that
hands Sol doesn’t exist in that mentality in an interview Mackey
mentality in an interview Mackey
mentality in an interview Mackey explains the necessity of continuing to
explains the necessity of continuing to
explains the necessity of continuing to pursue soul
pursue soul
pursue soul despite the term being bracketed and
despite the term being bracketed and
despite the term being bracketed and even out of fashion in poetry quarters
even out of fashion in poetry quarters
even out of fashion in poetry quarters where that term has traditionally been
where that term has traditionally been
where that term has traditionally been at home Mackey’s work is brave and vital
at home Mackey’s work is brave and vital
at home Mackey’s work is brave and vital for poetry in school we teach poetry as
for poetry in school we teach poetry as
for poetry in school we teach poetry as a literary art but that is only one-half
a literary art but that is only one-half
a literary art but that is only one-half it’s not a smaller fraction of poetic
it’s not a smaller fraction of poetic
it’s not a smaller fraction of poetic experience poetry existed long before
experience poetry existed long before
experience poetry existed long before there was any such thing as literature
there was any such thing as literature
there was any such thing as literature poetry is first and foremost a spiritual
poetry is first and foremost a spiritual
poetry is first and foremost a spiritual art form I speak for myself when I say
art form I speak for myself when I say
art form I speak for myself when I say for fear of looking naive not rational
for fear of looking naive not rational
for fear of looking naive not rational not academic I talked around the vital
not academic I talked around the vital
not academic I talked around the vital half the half that is the experience the
half the half that is the experience the
half the half that is the experience the knowing the silent sound behind the
knowing the silent sound behind the
knowing the silent sound behind the words but doing so I was teaching the
words but doing so I was teaching the
words but doing so I was teaching the terrible music class I described earlier
terrible music class I described earlier
terrible music class I described earlier I was missing the most important aspect
I was missing the most important aspect
I was missing the most important aspect poet Barbra guest of the New York school
poet Barbra guest of the New York school
poet Barbra guest of the New York school of poets explains that aspect the most
of poets explains that aspect the most
of poets explains that aspect the most important act of a poem is to reach
important act of a poem is to reach
important act of a poem is to reach further than the page so that we are
further than the page so that we are
further than the page so that we are aware of another aspect of the art this
aware of another aspect of the art this
aware of another aspect of the art this will introduce us to the spiritual
will introduce us to the spiritual
will introduce us to the spiritual essence the essence has no limits the
essence the essence has no limits the
essence the essence has no limits the guest was concerned that in the
guest was concerned that in the
guest was concerned that in the institution there was what she called a
institution there was what she called a
institution there was what she called a demise of the spirit and during her life
demise of the spirit and during her life
demise of the spirit and during her life she worried poetry and therefore the
she worried poetry and therefore the
she worried poetry and therefore the meanings we make in our life would start
meanings we make in our life would start
meanings we make in our life would start to reflect that spiritual absence her
to reflect that spiritual absence her
to reflect that spiritual absence her concern has come true in the majority of
concern has come true in the majority of
concern has come true in the majority of classrooms across America like in mind
classrooms across America like in mind
classrooms across America like in mind that absence is a reality and the
that absence is a reality and the
that absence is a reality and the reasons feel complex historically poets
reasons feel complex historically poets
reasons feel complex historically poets were messengers of the gods today we are
were messengers of the gods today we are
were messengers of the gods today we are careful to separate church and state in
careful to separate church and state in
careful to separate church and state in public school but let me be clear
public school but let me be clear
public school but let me be clear poetry is not any type of religion it’s
poetry is not any type of religion it’s
poetry is not any type of religion it’s completely free of doctrine and dogma
completely free of doctrine and dogma
completely free of doctrine and dogma every religion race sexual orientation
every religion race sexual orientation
every religion race sexual orientation gender has a poet still it is a human
gender has a poet still it is a human
gender has a poet still it is a human experience that involves a spiritual
experience that involves a spiritual
experience that involves a spiritual realization
realization
realization a sacred Epiphany to use the term of the
a sacred Epiphany to use the term of the
a sacred Epiphany to use the term of the ancient Greeks furthermore an instructor
ancient Greeks furthermore an instructor
ancient Greeks furthermore an instructor really shouldn’t give away their beliefs
really shouldn’t give away their beliefs
really shouldn’t give away their beliefs science can’t prove a spiritual
science can’t prove a spiritual
science can’t prove a spiritual dimension academics can’t even agree
dimension academics can’t even agree
dimension academics can’t even agree what poetry is the silent absence that
what poetry is the silent absence that
what poetry is the silent absence that bracket it’s very present and yet it
bracket it’s very present and yet it
bracket it’s very present and yet it missing I believe the missing element in
missing I believe the missing element in
missing I believe the missing element in the poetry classroom is the missing
the poetry classroom is the missing
the poetry classroom is the missing experience in our daily life when we
experience in our daily life when we
experience in our daily life when we have meaning but we don’t have
have meaning but we don’t have
have meaning but we don’t have meaningfulness we have words on a page
meaningfulness we have words on a page
meaningfulness we have words on a page but we don’t feel poetry it’s the
but we don’t feel poetry it’s the
but we don’t feel poetry it’s the fullness of meaning that we all crave
fullness of meaning that we all crave
fullness of meaning that we all crave the experience of our fullness that’s
the experience of our fullness that’s
the experience of our fullness that’s what a poetic experience offers to each
what a poetic experience offers to each
what a poetic experience offers to each of you but if we’re missing the
of you but if we’re missing the
of you but if we’re missing the foundational teaching of poetry the
foundational teaching of poetry the
foundational teaching of poetry the personal experience of our spiritual
personal experience of our spiritual
personal experience of our spiritual essence then we’re missing the poetic
essence then we’re missing the poetic
essence then we’re missing the poetic dimension in our life and that’s sad
dimension in our life and that’s sad
dimension in our life and that’s sad because poetry’s dimension is life
because poetry’s dimension is life
because poetry’s dimension is life itself to have wife to be a wife to be
itself to have wife to be a wife to be
itself to have wife to be a wife to be filled with spirit to live on a planet
filled with spirit to live on a planet
filled with spirit to live on a planet with others and oceans and flowers to
with others and oceans and flowers to
with others and oceans and flowers to see that beauty as your own that
see that beauty as your own that
see that beauty as your own that fullness cannot be put into words it is
fullness cannot be put into words it is
fullness cannot be put into words it is as guest said beyond the page it has
as guest said beyond the page it has
as guest said beyond the page it has nothing to do with rhymes metaphors or
nothing to do with rhymes metaphors or
nothing to do with rhymes metaphors or memorization it won’t help if I ask you
memorization it won’t help if I ask you
memorization it won’t help if I ask you to count the ambach pentameter x’ and
to count the ambach pentameter x’ and
to count the ambach pentameter x’ and sonnets are the syllables in haiku no
sonnets are the syllables in haiku no
sonnets are the syllables in haiku no amount of literary analysis will tell me
amount of literary analysis will tell me
amount of literary analysis will tell me your souls experience when you bite into
your souls experience when you bite into
your souls experience when you bite into a summer’s peach no paper you write will
a summer’s peach no paper you write will
a summer’s peach no paper you write will reveal the vitality of your being when
reveal the vitality of your being when
reveal the vitality of your being when you dive in the sea and no literary term
you dive in the sea and no literary term
you dive in the sea and no literary term will explain the feeling of holding a
will explain the feeling of holding a
will explain the feeling of holding a newborn baby watching the totality
newborn baby watching the totality
newborn baby watching the totality moment of an eclipse seeing your partner
moment of an eclipse seeing your partner
moment of an eclipse seeing your partner smile or being in the room when someone
smile or being in the room when someone
smile or being in the room when someone you love takes a final breath
you love takes a final breath
you love takes a final breath it won’t work if I tell you the poem has
it won’t work if I tell you the poem has
it won’t work if I tell you the poem has one correct meaning that these
one correct meaning that these
one correct meaning that these experiences have one correct fullness
experiences have one correct fullness
experiences have one correct fullness that there’s something to get that you
that there’s something to get that you
that there’s something to get that you don’t already have so if your poetry
don’t already have so if your poetry
don’t already have so if your poetry class left you feeling like poetry is
class left you feeling like poetry is
class left you feeling like poetry is useless I want to offer you a way to
useless I want to offer you a way to
useless I want to offer you a way to create poetic value in
create poetic value in
create poetic value in your own life so you can experience
your own life so you can experience
your own life so you can experience poetry’s rapture for yourself one night
poetry’s rapture for yourself one night
poetry’s rapture for yourself one night during the poetic crisis of my life I
during the poetic crisis of my life I
during the poetic crisis of my life I realized I had ironically forgotten the
realized I had ironically forgotten the
realized I had ironically forgotten the one thing poetry teaches better than any
one thing poetry teaches better than any
one thing poetry teaches better than any other subject how to make meaning not
other subject how to make meaning not
other subject how to make meaning not just flat arbitrary meaning but soul
just flat arbitrary meaning but soul
just flat arbitrary meaning but soul fulfilling meaning then it occurred to
fulfilling meaning then it occurred to
fulfilling meaning then it occurred to me if I just started living and teaching
me if I just started living and teaching
me if I just started living and teaching the exact same way I write or read a
the exact same way I write or read a
the exact same way I write or read a poem maybe I could find what I was
poem maybe I could find what I was
poem maybe I could find what I was missing the question became how could I
missing the question became how could I
missing the question became how could I reverse-engineer poetic experience the
reverse-engineer poetic experience the
reverse-engineer poetic experience the unspeakable experience of poetry for
unspeakable experience of poetry for
unspeakable experience of poetry for myself for my students so we could all
myself for my students so we could all
myself for my students so we could all feel it individually create it in our
feel it individually create it in our
feel it individually create it in our days and let its presence help us live
days and let its presence help us live
days and let its presence help us live our life as wallace stevens famously
our life as wallace stevens famously
our life as wallace stevens famously wrote this question took me off the page
wrote this question took me off the page
wrote this question took me off the page back to a very ancient poetry where to
back to a very ancient poetry where to
back to a very ancient poetry where to be inspired inspir ra meant to breathe
be inspired inspir ra meant to breathe
be inspired inspir ra meant to breathe or blow into to be filled with spirit
or blow into to be filled with spirit
or blow into to be filled with spirit the breath of life and poetry poesis
the breath of life and poetry poesis
the breath of life and poetry poesis meant only to make or making and Plato
meant only to make or making and Plato
meant only to make or making and Plato argued anyone who made something from
argued anyone who made something from
argued anyone who made something from nothing was a poet that’s the poetry I
nothing was a poet that’s the poetry I
nothing was a poet that’s the poetry I now teach to CEOs and other innovators a
now teach to CEOs and other innovators a
now teach to CEOs and other innovators a spiritually liberated poetry a life
spiritually liberated poetry a life
spiritually liberated poetry a life liberated poetry the poetic art of how
liberated poetry the poetic art of how
liberated poetry the poetic art of how to be inspired how to be filled with
to be inspired how to be filled with
to be inspired how to be filled with life and then make something meaningful
life and then make something meaningful
life and then make something meaningful from nothing now poets although they
from nothing now poets although they
from nothing now poets although they work in the line of sages prophets and
work in the line of sages prophets and
work in the line of sages prophets and mystics they’re just ordinary people
mystics they’re just ordinary people
mystics they’re just ordinary people maybe a little out there but they are
maybe a little out there but they are
maybe a little out there but they are living in a world full of joy and making
living in a world full of joy and making
living in a world full of joy and making deep meaning every day as they witness
deep meaning every day as they witness
deep meaning every day as they witness spiritual essence in everything William
spiritual essence in everything William
spiritual essence in everything William Carlos Williams has a poem where he sees
Carlos Williams has a poem where he sees
Carlos Williams has a poem where he sees divinity and a man gathering dog poo the
divinity and a man gathering dog poo the
divinity and a man gathering dog poo the old man who goes
old man who goes
old man who goes out gathering dog line walks in the
out gathering dog line walks in the
out gathering dog line walks in the gutter without looking up and his tread
gutter without looking up and his tread
gutter without looking up and his tread is more majestic than that of the
is more majestic than that of the
is more majestic than that of the Episcopal minister approaching the
Episcopal minister approaching the
Episcopal minister approaching the pulpit of a Sunday these things astonish
pulpit of a Sunday these things astonish
pulpit of a Sunday these things astonish me beyond words that same astonishment
me beyond words that same astonishment
me beyond words that same astonishment lives inside you you all have your own
lives inside you you all have your own
lives inside you you all have your own criterion for truth and beauty you all
criterion for truth and beauty you all
criterion for truth and beauty you all have the ability when you get quiet to
have the ability when you get quiet to
have the ability when you get quiet to render yourself speechless you can
render yourself speechless you can
render yourself speechless you can create your own inspiration and bring
create your own inspiration and bring
create your own inspiration and bring yourself to a place beyond language
yourself to a place beyond language
yourself to a place beyond language that’s what I love most about poetry
that’s what I love most about poetry
that’s what I love most about poetry most of us live our life thinking
most of us live our life thinking
most of us live our life thinking inspiration is something we have to wait
inspiration is something we have to wait
inspiration is something we have to wait around for we’re waiting for the idea to
around for we’re waiting for the idea to
around for we’re waiting for the idea to strike for the moment we can be creative
strike for the moment we can be creative
strike for the moment we can be creative and yes inspiration does strike but a
and yes inspiration does strike but a
and yes inspiration does strike but a poet also knows they can make their own
poet also knows they can make their own
poet also knows they can make their own inspiration they can fill themselves
inspiration they can fill themselves
inspiration they can fill themselves with the breath of life all they have to
with the breath of life all they have to
with the breath of life all they have to do is start making it bringing attention
do is start making it bringing attention
do is start making it bringing attention to their existence to the magnificence
to their existence to the magnificence
to their existence to the magnificence of being alive and in rapture of that
of being alive and in rapture of that
of being alive and in rapture of that that is the first meaning the poet makes
that is the first meaning the poet makes
that is the first meaning the poet makes and when we start making meaning there
and when we start making meaning there
and when we start making meaning there with that incredible but simple but
with that incredible but simple but
with that incredible but simple but incredible awareness anything we ask is
incredible awareness anything we ask is
incredible awareness anything we ask is only going to blow us open with beauty
only going to blow us open with beauty
only going to blow us open with beauty and wonder as your poetry teacher I have
and wonder as your poetry teacher I have
and wonder as your poetry teacher I have to teach you first how to be alive I
to teach you first how to be alive I
to teach you first how to be alive I have to let you feel the enormousness of
have to let you feel the enormousness of
have to let you feel the enormousness of living I have to offer you space to
living I have to offer you space to
living I have to offer you space to create your own inspiration to fill your
create your own inspiration to fill your
create your own inspiration to fill your own spiritual essence you must
own spiritual essence you must
own spiritual essence you must experience that beyond words swell of
experience that beyond words swell of
experience that beyond words swell of connection and power to your life first
connection and power to your life first
connection and power to your life first before I can teach you to make anything
before I can teach you to make anything
before I can teach you to make anything with it but if you are alive you have
with it but if you are alive you have
with it but if you are alive you have already started making poetry and the
already started making poetry and the
already started making poetry and the person who enters completely into the
person who enters completely into the
person who enters completely into the experience of poesis of making will be
experience of poesis of making will be
experience of poesis of making will be initiated into a deeper intimacy with
initiated into a deeper intimacy with
initiated into a deeper intimacy with life itself
life itself
life itself so go transcend follow your impulses
so go transcend follow your impulses
so go transcend follow your impulses make life breathe life with the
make life breathe life with the
make life breathe life with the awareness and silent wonder of what Walt
awareness and silent wonder of what Walt
awareness and silent wonder of what Walt Whitman’s saying that you are here that
Whitman’s saying that you are here that
Whitman’s saying that you are here that life exists and identity that the
life exists and identity that the
life exists and identity that the powerful play goes on and you may
powerful play goes on and you may
powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse for when you live
contribute a verse for when you live
contribute a verse for when you live poetically you are responsive to your
poetically you are responsive to your
poetically you are responsive to your deepest voice the callings truce and
deepest voice the callings truce and
deepest voice the callings truce and truest expression whether in words
truest expression whether in words
truest expression whether in words whether in paint whether in business or
whether in paint whether in business or
whether in paint whether in business or in a garden of your being
in a garden of your being
in a garden of your being I won’t define it what is poetry it’s
I won’t define it what is poetry it’s
I won’t define it what is poetry it’s limitless but it is and what’s a song
limitless but it is and what’s a song
limitless but it is and what’s a song without the pulse behind it it’s your
without the pulse behind it it’s your
without the pulse behind it it’s your life without your soul behind it it’s
life without your soul behind it it’s
life without your soul behind it it’s the world without humanity’s beauty and
the world without humanity’s beauty and
the world without humanity’s beauty and fullness behind it we are all masters
fullness behind it we are all masters
fullness behind it we are all masters all poets all conductors we only have to
all poets all conductors we only have to
all poets all conductors we only have to open up and discover what is already
open up and discover what is already
open up and discover what is already here I will leave you with one final
here I will leave you with one final
here I will leave you with one final consideration dear
consideration dear
consideration dear beings welcome to earth you have arrived
beings welcome to earth you have arrived
beings welcome to earth you have arrived there will be raging rivers and stars
there will be raging rivers and stars
there will be raging rivers and stars and you can travel to the South of
and you can travel to the South of
and you can travel to the South of France
France
France climb the mist in Bhutan and every
climb the mist in Bhutan and every
climb the mist in Bhutan and every single day a sunset and yeah it will
single day a sunset and yeah it will
single day a sunset and yeah it will hurt but there will be dazzling cities
hurt but there will be dazzling cities
hurt but there will be dazzling cities and wind and somewhere in between you
and wind and somewhere in between you
and wind and somewhere in between you will love and you will die and that all
will love and you will die and that all
will love and you will die and that all of it is poetry those are the opening
of it is poetry those are the opening
of it is poetry those are the opening words to the poetry class you never took
words to the poetry class you never took
words to the poetry class you never took and I never taught thank you
and I never taught thank you
and I never taught thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment