[Music] so what happened to me when I was in
so what happened to me when I was in
so what happened to me when I was in grade five was I read a poem and I felt
grade five was I read a poem and I felt
grade five was I read a poem and I felt like someone had stolen the words that
like someone had stolen the words that
like someone had stolen the words that were in my head
were in my head
were in my head except said them much better than I
except said them much better than I
except said them much better than I could ever possibly say
could ever possibly say
could ever possibly say and that poet was shel silverstein does
and that poet was shel silverstein does
and that poet was shel silverstein does anyone know where shel silverstein so
anyone know where shel silverstein so
anyone know where shel silverstein so yeah so I blame him okay so to me what
yeah so I blame him okay so to me what
yeah so I blame him okay so to me what happened when he stole the words right
happened when he stole the words right
happened when he stole the words right out of my grade five brain and put them
out of my grade five brain and put them
out of my grade five brain and put them into his book was that I learned that
into his book was that I learned that
into his book was that I learned that poetry was the great connector poetry
poetry was the great connector poetry
poetry was the great connector poetry connects us it allows us to understand
connects us it allows us to understand
connects us it allows us to understand and access really deep feelings and to
and access really deep feelings and to
and access really deep feelings and to be able to put them into words because
be able to put them into words because
be able to put them into words because ultimately poetry is the way that we
ultimately poetry is the way that we
ultimately poetry is the way that we reveal ourselves to ourselves that
reveal ourselves to ourselves that
reveal ourselves to ourselves that poetry is it is the expression of the
poetry is it is the expression of the
poetry is it is the expression of the fields that we feel before they have
fields that we feel before they have
fields that we feel before they have words and then they come out those
words and then they come out those
words and then they come out those fields they come out as words and that
fields they come out as words and that
fields they come out as words and that and that’s what poetry does my friend
and that’s what poetry does my friend
and that’s what poetry does my friend Tom Wayman he says well poetry is an
Tom Wayman he says well poetry is an
Tom Wayman he says well poetry is an agent of social change and the reason
agent of social change and the reason
agent of social change and the reason that he believes that poetry is an agent
that he believes that poetry is an agent
that he believes that poetry is an agent of social change is because it has no
of social change is because it has no
of social change is because it has no value in the money economy I mean
value in the money economy I mean
value in the money economy I mean ultimately if you say to someone would
ultimately if you say to someone would
ultimately if you say to someone would you mind if I read you my poem right
you mind if I read you my poem right
you mind if I read you my poem right there’s almost nothing else that can
there’s almost nothing else that can
there’s almost nothing else that can make people run away quite as fast so
make people run away quite as fast so
make people run away quite as fast so now that you’re all captive ly buckled
now that you’re all captive ly buckled
now that you’re all captive ly buckled into your seats I guess I’ve got you now
into your seats I guess I’ve got you now
into your seats I guess I’ve got you now don’t I
don’t I
don’t I so these one of the things that I think
so these one of the things that I think
so these one of the things that I think about in my poetry I don’t know if he
about in my poetry I don’t know if he
about in my poetry I don’t know if he mentioned but at the moment I’m the
mentioned but at the moment I’m the
mentioned but at the moment I’m the current poet laureate of Calgary as well
current poet laureate of Calgary as well
current poet laureate of Calgary as well so one of the things that I think about
so one of the things that I think about
so one of the things that I think about in terms of my own poetry is what is it
in terms of my own poetry is what is it
in terms of my own poetry is what is it like to be human and not just what is it
like to be human and not just what is it
like to be human and not just what is it like to be human at the ground level but
like to be human at the ground level but
like to be human at the ground level but from
from
from way up so these are the things that I
way up so these are the things that I
way up so these are the things that I like to consider in my poems and so I’m
like to consider in my poems and so I’m
like to consider in my poems and so I’m here to read a little bits to you and
here to read a little bits to you and
here to read a little bits to you and this giant clock that’s as big as my
this giant clock that’s as big as my
this giant clock that’s as big as my torso is looking at me right here so I
torso is looking at me right here so I
torso is looking at me right here so I will be mindful of your time this first
will be mindful of your time this first
will be mindful of your time this first poem we heard some of these themes today
poem we heard some of these themes today
poem we heard some of these themes today so it’s really wonderful
so it’s really wonderful
so it’s really wonderful it’s called convergence convergence the
it’s called convergence convergence the
it’s called convergence convergence the long strand of my DNA casts its blood
long strand of my DNA casts its blood
long strand of my DNA casts its blood shape back to snow a spattered deer kill
shape back to snow a spattered deer kill
shape back to snow a spattered deer kill the struck life narrowing two strips of
the struck life narrowing two strips of
the struck life narrowing two strips of pemmican in some voyagers pouch
pemmican in some voyagers pouch
pemmican in some voyagers pouch somewhere else my DNA sits near the
somewhere else my DNA sits near the
somewhere else my DNA sits near the beach of Loch Lomond
beach of Loch Lomond
beach of Loch Lomond watches ice floes in an afternoon light
watches ice floes in an afternoon light
watches ice floes in an afternoon light a fire with chills spark and halo yet
a fire with chills spark and halo yet
a fire with chills spark and halo yet another strand of DNA plant sweet and
another strand of DNA plant sweet and
another strand of DNA plant sweet and lilac near troglodyte caves evening
lilac near troglodyte caves evening
lilac near troglodyte caves evening indigo high in the stratosphere peppered
indigo high in the stratosphere peppered
indigo high in the stratosphere peppered with faraway suns reproducing lustrous
with faraway suns reproducing lustrous
with faraway suns reproducing lustrous blossoms below tiny epiphanies ladder
blossoms below tiny epiphanies ladder
blossoms below tiny epiphanies ladder double-stranded ascensions to past and
double-stranded ascensions to past and
double-stranded ascensions to past and sky this is to say my life is a hallway
sky this is to say my life is a hallway
sky this is to say my life is a hallway between these strands this is to say no
between these strands this is to say no
between these strands this is to say no one is defined by space or time this is
one is defined by space or time this is
one is defined by space or time this is to say I declare my citizenship to the
to say I declare my citizenship to the
to say I declare my citizenship to the Sun light travels 150 kilometres without
Sun light travels 150 kilometres without
Sun light travels 150 kilometres without bias or prejudice or ownership of
bias or prejudice or ownership of
bias or prejudice or ownership of anywhere or anyone this next poem is
anywhere or anyone this next poem is
anywhere or anyone this next poem is called if you
called if you
called if you really appreciative that Robert Thirsk
really appreciative that Robert Thirsk
really appreciative that Robert Thirsk is going after me because I write poems
is going after me because I write poems
is going after me because I write poems about Spacey things and he Jesus an
about Spacey things and he Jesus an
about Spacey things and he Jesus an astronaut so it’s wonderful if you if
astronaut so it’s wonderful if you if
astronaut so it’s wonderful if you if you if you gaze at the stars they turn
you if you gaze at the stars they turn
you if you gaze at the stars they turn their fiery irises towards our wet dirty
their fiery irises towards our wet dirty
their fiery irises towards our wet dirty planet and watch the tidal motion of
planet and watch the tidal motion of
planet and watch the tidal motion of person piercing person with penis and
person piercing person with penis and
person piercing person with penis and Gladius and bullet a supergiant’s own
Gladius and bullet a supergiant’s own
Gladius and bullet a supergiant’s own combustion spark slight honesty and we
combustion spark slight honesty and we
combustion spark slight honesty and we chalk compassion on blackboards and
chalk compassion on blackboards and
chalk compassion on blackboards and speak it from pulpits without much
speak it from pulpits without much
speak it from pulpits without much permanence for without much purchase for
permanence for without much purchase for
permanence for without much purchase for permanence
permanence
permanence if you speak remember speech is the
if you speak remember speech is the
if you speak remember speech is the symbolic act of a reasonable citizen the
symbolic act of a reasonable citizen the
symbolic act of a reasonable citizen the white star turns back to itself silent
white star turns back to itself silent
white star turns back to itself silent when faced with this glut of gibberish
when faced with this glut of gibberish
when faced with this glut of gibberish and babble the heart is dense with so
and babble the heart is dense with so
and babble the heart is dense with so much bad news
much bad news
much bad news if you stare into the abyss the abyss
if you stare into the abyss the abyss
if you stare into the abyss the abyss stares back and the stars too but then
stares back and the stars too but then
stares back and the stars too but then they must blink turn away indifferent
they must blink turn away indifferent
they must blink turn away indifferent they must having no hands to help or to
they must having no hands to help or to
they must having no hands to help or to heal this next poem is about story
heal this next poem is about story
heal this next poem is about story because I think that there are always
because I think that there are always
because I think that there are always more than one way to tell a story so
more than one way to tell a story so
more than one way to tell a story so Somerset mom he’s reading Proust in the
Somerset mom he’s reading Proust in the
Somerset mom he’s reading Proust in the desert he’s reading and then he does
desert he’s reading and then he does
desert he’s reading and then he does this strange thing he pulls the pages
this strange thing he pulls the pages
this strange thing he pulls the pages out of the book good flings them to the
out of the book good flings them to the
out of the book good flings them to the wind and the sand and the camels and
wind and the sand and the camels and
wind and the sand and the camels and another man comes along maybe the next
another man comes along maybe the next
another man comes along maybe the next day or a week after I’m not sure which
day or a week after I’m not sure which
day or a week after I’m not sure which and he picks up the pages which aren’t
and he picks up the pages which aren’t
and he picks up the pages which aren’t really a story anymore more like the
really a story anymore more like the
really a story anymore more like the impression of a story with all the same
impression of a story with all the same
impression of a story with all the same words and similar Cadence’s and all the
words and similar Cadence’s and all the
words and similar Cadence’s and all the same characters
same characters
same characters but everything is wind tossed and
but everything is wind tossed and
but everything is wind tossed and rearranged enormous leaps of strangeness
rearranged enormous leaps of strangeness
rearranged enormous leaps of strangeness and he finds them half buried in a dune
and he finds them half buried in a dune
and he finds them half buried in a dune or crumpled deep in a camel’s hoof print
or crumpled deep in a camel’s hoof print
or crumpled deep in a camel’s hoof print but each page is still art language
but each page is still art language
but each page is still art language flies its way into his hair and he can’t
flies its way into his hair and he can’t
flies its way into his hair and he can’t get it off of his head it solve a
get it off of his head it solve a
get it off of his head it solve a lover’s breast pleasurable waterlilies
lover’s breast pleasurable waterlilies
lover’s breast pleasurable waterlilies after all that sand both men are equally
after all that sand both men are equally
after all that sand both men are equally satisfied with this experience this way
satisfied with this experience this way
satisfied with this experience this way of reading the man on the horse with his
of reading the man on the horse with his
of reading the man on the horse with his book on order like a map or a plan and
book on order like a map or a plan and
book on order like a map or a plan and the man behind he’s making his own
the man behind he’s making his own
the man behind he’s making his own footsteps in the dune he’s making his
footsteps in the dune he’s making his
footsteps in the dune he’s making his way through it too but not the way it
way through it too but not the way it
way through it too but not the way it was intended and which is the best
was intended and which is the best
was intended and which is the best experience I don’t know which man I’d
experience I don’t know which man I’d
experience I don’t know which man I’d rather be which one is the best story
and this is titled I always wanted a
and this is titled I always wanted a tattoo this is for the real poetry geeks
tattoo this is for the real poetry geeks
tattoo this is for the real poetry geeks out there I like to teach this form in
out there I like to teach this form in
out there I like to teach this form in my class so now you’re going to get a
my class so now you’re going to get a
my class so now you’re going to get a poetry lesson today because you’re still
poetry lesson today because you’re still
poetry lesson today because you’re still buckled in your seats this poem is
buckled in your seats this poem is
buckled in your seats this poem is called agloe sauce so what you do is you
called agloe sauce so what you do is you
called agloe sauce so what you do is you take four lines from a different author
take four lines from a different author
take four lines from a different author and you respond to those lines and those
and you respond to those lines and those
and you respond to those lines and those lines become embedded in the poem so I’m
lines become embedded in the poem so I’m
lines become embedded in the poem so I’m going to read to you the four lines from
going to read to you the four lines from
going to read to you the four lines from the other author and then you’re going
the other author and then you’re going
the other author and then you’re going to hear them come back up okay so the
to hear them come back up okay so the
to hear them come back up okay so the four lines are from Mary rueful she’s an
four lines are from Mary rueful she’s an
four lines are from Mary rueful she’s an American poet she says this in the end I
American poet she says this in the end I
American poet she says this in the end I would rather wonder than no I never got
would rather wonder than no I never got
would rather wonder than no I never got my tattoo and never will I hesitated too
my tattoo and never will I hesitated too
my tattoo and never will I hesitated too long in the time in which acquire such
long in the time in which acquire such
long in the time in which acquire such things has passed as all things will so
things has passed as all things will so
things has passed as all things will so here comes the response I always wanted
here comes the response I always wanted
here comes the response I always wanted a tattoo of a flock of birds winding up
a tattoo of a flock of birds winding up
a tattoo of a flock of birds winding up around my hip and across my belly and
around my hip and across my belly and
around my hip and across my belly and over my shoulder in between my breasts
over my shoulder in between my breasts
over my shoulder in between my breasts set up my neck
set up my neck
set up my neck a spiral or a corkscrew I saw a
a spiral or a corkscrew I saw a
a spiral or a corkscrew I saw a hummingbird chase a squirrel in a pine
hummingbird chase a squirrel in a pine
hummingbird chase a squirrel in a pine tree up that path a skirmish with beat
tree up that path a skirmish with beat
tree up that path a skirmish with beat or claw tooth versus wing at if that
or claw tooth versus wing at if that
or claw tooth versus wing at if that came – no blood just this chatter and
came – no blood just this chatter and
came – no blood just this chatter and squawk of two fools marking territory in
squawk of two fools marking territory in
squawk of two fools marking territory in space big enough to hold them both in
space big enough to hold them both in
space big enough to hold them both in the end I would rather wonder than know
the end I would rather wonder than know
the end I would rather wonder than know where the territory Lions stop and start
where the territory Lions stop and start
where the territory Lions stop and start and live reckless by crossing those
and live reckless by crossing those
and live reckless by crossing those paradoxical borders of earth water and
paradoxical borders of earth water and
paradoxical borders of earth water and air have you ever leaned down into the
air have you ever leaned down into the
air have you ever leaned down into the sand and squinted at a shoreline I – aye
sand and squinted at a shoreline I – aye
sand and squinted at a shoreline I – aye it’s not a line but a shimmer a wave a
it’s not a line but a shimmer a wave a
it’s not a line but a shimmer a wave a blur impossible to ink with damselfly or
blur impossible to ink with damselfly or
blur impossible to ink with damselfly or Magnum needle enduring without
Magnum needle enduring without
Magnum needle enduring without permanence or stasis border shift and
permanence or stasis border shift and
permanence or stasis border shift and move world I never got my tattoo and
move world I never got my tattoo and
move world I never got my tattoo and never will I admire the tree its
never will I admire the tree its
never will I admire the tree its certainty of freedom belonging to
certainty of freedom belonging to
certainty of freedom belonging to neither bird nor mammal no citizenship
neither bird nor mammal no citizenship
neither bird nor mammal no citizenship to blood life rocks on past this feeble
to blood life rocks on past this feeble
to blood life rocks on past this feeble quiver of quibble for what is it –
quiver of quibble for what is it –
quiver of quibble for what is it – attached to the small dramas of one
attached to the small dramas of one
attached to the small dramas of one seasons nesting beasts much more comes
seasons nesting beasts much more comes
seasons nesting beasts much more comes in the letting and the going roots keep
in the letting and the going roots keep
in the letting and the going roots keep on rooting and cone keeps on seeding I
on rooting and cone keeps on seeding I
on rooting and cone keeps on seeding I hesitated too long and the time in which
hesitated too long and the time in which
hesitated too long and the time in which one acquires such wisdom has already
one acquires such wisdom has already
one acquires such wisdom has already cost me half my life
cost me half my life
cost me half my life entropy claims the natural order of
entropy claims the natural order of
entropy claims the natural order of things tree is the best mentor but even
things tree is the best mentor but even
things tree is the best mentor but even a trunk turns to driftwood in time I’ve
a trunk turns to driftwood in time I’ve
a trunk turns to driftwood in time I’ve already talked myself out of a tattoo
already talked myself out of a tattoo
already talked myself out of a tattoo indelibly marking myself no longer
indelibly marking myself no longer
indelibly marking myself no longer matters always isn’t real to me wanting
matters always isn’t real to me wanting
matters always isn’t real to me wanting is now about contentment essentials now
is now about contentment essentials now
is now about contentment essentials now I simply notice things pass
I simply notice things pass
I simply notice things pass as all things will and this last one is
as all things will and this last one is
as all things will and this last one is called I bet you already knew and I’m
called I bet you already knew and I’m
called I bet you already knew and I’m going to dedicate this to my mother who
going to dedicate this to my mother who
going to dedicate this to my mother who came and supported me for the last six
came and supported me for the last six
came and supported me for the last six weeks while I went insane preparing for
weeks while I went insane preparing for
weeks while I went insane preparing for this talk I bet you already knew I broke
this talk I bet you already knew I broke
this talk I bet you already knew I broke up once like mercury dispersed bearings
up once like mercury dispersed bearings
up once like mercury dispersed bearings out from the mother drop a solid thing
out from the mother drop a solid thing
out from the mother drop a solid thing diffused not quite whole an elegance
diffused not quite whole an elegance
diffused not quite whole an elegance biology of molecules orbited out from
biology of molecules orbited out from
biology of molecules orbited out from the center of the thing called self
the center of the thing called self
the center of the thing called self called existence
called existence
called existence it happened at a lake I paddled to the
it happened at a lake I paddled to the
it happened at a lake I paddled to the horizon between glacial scour and outer
horizon between glacial scour and outer
horizon between glacial scour and outer space I faced up or was it down either
space I faced up or was it down either
space I faced up or was it down either way promised and untouchable infinity
way promised and untouchable infinity
way promised and untouchable infinity there is something to be said for that
there is something to be said for that
there is something to be said for that kind of silence I floated until my mind
kind of silence I floated until my mind
kind of silence I floated until my mind was empty of human words until it
was empty of human words until it
was empty of human words until it existed in feel only in feel beyond the
existed in feel only in feel beyond the
existed in feel only in feel beyond the abilities of this poem its inept
abilities of this poem its inept
abilities of this poem its inept syllables until I knew my own smallness
syllables until I knew my own smallness
syllables until I knew my own smallness in the universe then came the tingling
in the universe then came the tingling
in the universe then came the tingling the dispersal the love not the love of a
the dispersal the love not the love of a
the dispersal the love not the love of a man or a woman or a mother or a father
man or a woman or a mother or a father
man or a woman or a mother or a father but the love the big thing the big other
but the love the big thing the big other
but the love the big thing the big other maybe infinity but let’s not rush to
maybe infinity but let’s not rush to
maybe infinity but let’s not rush to name it let’s not spoil it with that you
name it let’s not spoil it with that you
name it let’s not spoil it with that you know what I mean cells peeled one by one
know what I mean cells peeled one by one
know what I mean cells peeled one by one like electrons off a nucleus separate
like electrons off a nucleus separate
like electrons off a nucleus separate but held the space between the ancients
but held the space between the ancients
but held the space between the ancients called ether quintessence a highway for
called ether quintessence a highway for
called ether quintessence a highway for light and gravity and at the center was
light and gravity and at the center was
light and gravity and at the center was a ball of white a fifth element and all
a ball of white a fifth element and all
a ball of white a fifth element and all the things I had ever done badly or
the things I had ever done badly or
the things I had ever done badly or wrong didn’t matter but the feel
wrong didn’t matter but the feel
wrong didn’t matter but the feel concentrated intensified a storm of
concentrated intensified a storm of
concentrated intensified a storm of stillness and explosion simultaneous
stillness and explosion simultaneous
stillness and explosion simultaneous beyond body beyond self do
beyond body beyond self do
beyond body beyond self do explain this thing this coming apart as
explain this thing this coming apart as
explain this thing this coming apart as oneness does that make sense are you
oneness does that make sense are you
oneness does that make sense are you still with me after all of this
still with me after all of this
still with me after all of this otherworldly talk time unhinged was
otherworldly talk time unhinged was
otherworldly talk time unhinged was unknown the feel lasted for maybe a
unknown the feel lasted for maybe a
unknown the feel lasted for maybe a second maybe an afternoon does it matter
second maybe an afternoon does it matter
second maybe an afternoon does it matter how long what matters is that it
how long what matters is that it
how long what matters is that it happened at all and somehow it has
happened at all and somehow it has
happened at all and somehow it has become infinite for I can recall it now
become infinite for I can recall it now
become infinite for I can recall it now that burst and have you ever felt like
that burst and have you ever felt like
that burst and have you ever felt like that when nothing and everything matters
”
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