hi my name is Becky Murawski and this poem is entitled the things we leave
poem is entitled the things we leave
poem is entitled the things we leave behind one cold Saturday morning I sat
behind one cold Saturday morning I sat
behind one cold Saturday morning I sat down in a diner and reached behind the
down in a diner and reached behind the
down in a diner and reached behind the sugar packets in salt shakers so still I
sugar packets in salt shakers so still I
sugar packets in salt shakers so still I could break them with the touch and I
could break them with the touch and I
could break them with the touch and I found a crumpled up napkin but I
found a crumpled up napkin but I
found a crumpled up napkin but I unfolded it to find a vast map of
unfolded it to find a vast map of
unfolded it to find a vast map of physics scroll equations streamlined and
physics scroll equations streamlined and
physics scroll equations streamlined and refined place so finally on the pale
refined place so finally on the pale
refined place so finally on the pale background that it became a foreign
background that it became a foreign
background that it became a foreign language I could not wait to learn
language I could not wait to learn
language I could not wait to learn [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Newton didn’t care about paper
Newton didn’t care about paper
Newton didn’t care about paper complacency a cup of hot coffee and a
complacency a cup of hot coffee and a
complacency a cup of hot coffee and a $2.00 tip but this author was not Newton
$2.00 tip but this author was not Newton
$2.00 tip but this author was not Newton in the diner with its smear of chrome
in the diner with its smear of chrome
in the diner with its smear of chrome and linoleum was his laboratory because
and linoleum was his laboratory because
and linoleum was his laboratory because those writers we’re all reinventing
those writers we’re all reinventing
those writers we’re all reinventing gravity breathing in steam and breathing
gravity breathing in steam and breathing
gravity breathing in steam and breathing out the chilled distilling it down to
out the chilled distilling it down to
out the chilled distilling it down to what makes us human down to earth so one
what makes us human down to earth so one
what makes us human down to earth so one kappa pen bright blue casing bracing the
kappa pen bright blue casing bracing the
kappa pen bright blue casing bracing the space between your fingers pull over a
space between your fingers pull over a
space between your fingers pull over a napkin and write I dare you because the
napkin and write I dare you because the
napkin and write I dare you because the best authors nowadays don’t just use
best authors nowadays don’t just use
best authors nowadays don’t just use plain paper anymore they have their
plain paper anymore they have their
plain paper anymore they have their keyboard keys and backs of spreadsheets
keyboard keys and backs of spreadsheets
keyboard keys and backs of spreadsheets every folder I’ve ever owns as a poem on
every folder I’ve ever owns as a poem on
every folder I’ve ever owns as a poem on the inside cover my mother keeps paper
the inside cover my mother keeps paper
the inside cover my mother keeps paper cranes on her windowsill like post-it
cranes on her windowsill like post-it
cranes on her windowsill like post-it notes and I have never known a day
notes and I have never known a day
notes and I have never known a day without writing on the insides of my
without writing on the insides of my
without writing on the insides of my arms you look outside and it’s snowing
arms you look outside and it’s snowing
arms you look outside and it’s snowing and on the table in front of you is
and on the table in front of you is
and on the table in front of you is something amazing
something amazing
something amazing maybe it’s an hour’s work or maybe it’s
maybe it’s an hour’s work or maybe it’s
maybe it’s an hour’s work or maybe it’s your life’s work or maybe it’s both now
your life’s work or maybe it’s both now
your life’s work or maybe it’s both now what happens when you leave it behind
what happens when you leave it behind
what happens when you leave it behind shove it with the condiments and forget
shove it with the condiments and forget
shove it with the condiments and forget about its existence there may be a girl
about its existence there may be a girl
about its existence there may be a girl with fingers staying bright blue trying
with fingers staying bright blue trying
with fingers staying bright blue trying to replicate you and you’re in labyrinth
to replicate you and you’re in labyrinth
to replicate you and you’re in labyrinth Ian’s linguistic masterpiece
Ian’s linguistic masterpiece
Ian’s linguistic masterpiece she’ll celebrate your innovation and
she’ll celebrate your innovation and
she’ll celebrate your innovation and your notation will become the foundation
your notation will become the foundation
your notation will become the foundation of her entire world but what happens
of her entire world but what happens
of her entire world but what happens when you walk out that door only to
when you walk out that door only to
when you walk out that door only to waltz back in and a week
waltz back in and a week
waltz back in and a week we’re a month year you’ll come back here
we’re a month year you’ll come back here
we’re a month year you’ll come back here sitting down at your regular booth
sitting down at your regular booth
sitting down at your regular booth reaching behind the sugar packets in
reaching behind the sugar packets in
reaching behind the sugar packets in salt shakers so still they crumble under
salt shakers so still they crumble under
salt shakers so still they crumble under your touch you find a crumpled up napkin
your touch you find a crumpled up napkin
your touch you find a crumpled up napkin and through respiration and Riaan
and through respiration and Riaan
and through respiration and Riaan spiration you and your new point of view
spiration you and your new point of view
spiration you and your new point of view are open wide I’d like the night sky
are open wide I’d like the night sky
are open wide I’d like the night sky like your inner child just found a
like your inner child just found a
like your inner child just found a foreign language he couldn’t wait to
foreign language he couldn’t wait to
foreign language he couldn’t wait to learn what happens when you leave behind
learn what happens when you leave behind
learn what happens when you leave behind something that changes everything
something that changes everything
something that changes everything and how many times have we found it
and how many times have we found it
and how many times have we found it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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