If I should have a daughter ... | Sarah Kay

If I should have a daughter, instead of "Mom," she's going to call me "Point B"

The speaker reflects on the idea of being called "Point B" by her future daughter, emphasizing the importance of always being there for her.

Being called "Point B"

• The speaker envisions her future daughter calling her "Point B" instead of "Mom" to symbolize that she will always be a constant and reliable presence in her life.

Painting solar systems on the backs of her hands

The speaker expresses her desire to teach her daughter about the vastness of the universe and the importance of continuous learning.

Teaching about the universe

• The speaker plans to paint solar systems on the backs of her daughter's hands, encouraging her to explore and learn about the entire universe.

• She wants her daughter to understand that knowledge is not limited and that there is always more to discover.

Life will hit you hard, but getting back up is essential

The speaker acknowledges that life can be challenging but emphasizes the importance of resilience and finding strength in difficult times.

Facing challenges

• Life can be tough and knock you down, but it's crucial to get back up again.

• Experiencing setbacks helps us appreciate the value of overcoming obstacles and cherishing every breath we take.

Wonder Woman isn't coming, but support is available

The speaker acknowledges that there are limitations to what one person can do alone but assures her daughter that she doesn't have to face difficulties by herself.

Finding support

• When realizing that Wonder Woman won't come to save the day, the speaker wants her daughter to know that she doesn't have to wear the cape alone.

• No matter how much pain one wants to heal, it's impossible for their hands to catch it all.

• The speaker will always be there for her daughter, providing an extra supply of chocolate and rain boots as a source of comfort and support.

Smelling for smoke and trying to save others

The speaker advises her daughter not to be too proud or aloof but rather use her intuition to help others in need.

Following intuition

• The speaker warns her daughter against being too arrogant and encourages her to use her sense of smell metaphorically.

• By smelling for smoke, she can find those who are in distress and offer assistance or try to save them from difficult situations.

Chocolate and rain boots as remedies

The speaker suggests that chocolate can mend many heartbreaks, while rain can wash away troubles.

Remedies for heartbreak

• The speaker believes that chocolate has the power to heal most heartbreaks, although there may be exceptions.

• Rain is also seen as a cleansing force that can wash away everything if allowed.

• She wants her daughter to understand that even in challenging times, there are ways to find solace and move forward.

Viewing the world through different lenses

The speaker encourages her daughter to explore different perspectives and appreciate the beauty of life.

Unique perspectives

• The speaker wants her daughter to see the world from unconventional angles, such as looking through the underside of a glass-bottom boat or using a microscope to observe the vastness within a human mind.

• These experiences can broaden her understanding and appreciation of the world around her.

Embracing life's ups and downs

The speaker shares her perspective on embracing both the joys and challenges that life presents.

Embracing life

• Life is filled with unpredictable moments, where one may experience both successes and failures.

• Despite encountering difficulties, it's important to appreciate the beauty of life and maintain a positive outlook.

• The speaker acknowledges her own naivety but wants her daughter to understand that life is fragile yet worth experiencing fully.

Sugar, worry, warrior, and asking for more

The speaker imparts wisdom about resilience, curiosity, and self-expression.

Lessons for resilience

• The world can be fragile like sugar but should not deter one from tasting its sweetness.

• The speaker describes herself as a worrier while highlighting her partner as a warrior, emphasizing their daughter's potential to be curious and unafraid to ask for more in life.

Unapologetically shining bright

The speaker encourages her daughter to embrace her uniqueness without apologizing for it.

Embracing individuality

• Apologize when you make mistakes but never apologize for your eyes' radiance that refuses to dim.

• Your voice may be small, but never stop singing your truth.

• When faced with heartache or adversity, let others know they should meet your mother because she embodies strength and resilience.

Conclusion and gratitude

The speaker concludes her performance with expressions of gratitude.

Expressing gratitude

• The speaker thanks the audience for their applause and expresses her appreciation.

• She encourages the audience to take a moment to reflect on three things they know to be true.

A joke and personal reflections

The speaker lightens the mood with a joke before sharing personal insights.

Personal reflections

• The speaker shares three things she knows to be true, including a quote by Jean-Luc Godard about storytelling, her nervousness and excitement about being on stage, and her anticipation of telling a joke all week.

• She humorously tells a scarecrow-related joke that elicits laughter from the audience.

Using poetry as a tool for understanding

The speaker explains how she uses poetry as a means of exploring and understanding various aspects of life.

Poetry as exploration

• Writing poems helps the speaker work through thoughts and emotions, providing clarity or sometimes leading to new questions.

• Spoken-word poetry is an art form that combines performance with poetic expression.

Discovering Spoken-Word Poetry

The speaker recalls being a freshman in high school and feeling fascinated by spoken-word poetry. They decide to give it a try and perform their first spoken-word poem about the injustice of being seen as unfeminine. Despite initial nervousness, they receive positive feedback from the audience.

First Encounter with Spoken-Word Poetry

• As a freshman in high school, the speaker becomes interested in spoken-word poetry.

• They perform their first spoken-word poem about the injustice of being seen as unfeminine.

• The audience responds positively, which encourages the speaker to continue exploring spoken-word poetry.

Finding Inspiration at Bowery Poetry Club

The speaker discovers a bar called Bowery Poetry Club where they can immerse themselves in spoken-word poetry. Despite being much younger than other attendees, they are welcomed by the poets who perform there.

Immersion in Spoken-Word Poetry at Bowery Poetry Club

• The speaker finds Bowery Poetry Club on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

• They become a regular attendee and soak in every ounce of spoken word that they can.

• Despite being much younger than other attendees, the poets at Bowery Poetry Club welcome and encourage the speaker to share their own stories through poetry.

Embracing Personal Stories and Individuality

The speaker learns that spoken-word poetry doesn't have to be indignant but can encompass various emotions and themes. They realize that focusing on their own unique experiences makes their poetry more authentic.

Embracing Personal Stories in Spoken-Word Poetry

• Initially influenced by indignant poems, the speaker realizes that spoken-word poetry can be fun, painful, serious, or silly.

• The Bowery Poetry Club becomes the speaker's classroom and home, where they are encouraged to share their own stories.

• The speaker discovers that embracing their individuality and focusing on their unique experiences makes their poetry more authentic.

Using Poetry as a Tool for Understanding

The speaker explains how they use poetry to work through what they don't understand. They emphasize the importance of drawing from one's knowledge and experiences to explore new perspectives.

Poetry as a Tool for Understanding

• The speaker uses poetry to help them navigate and make sense of things they don't understand.

• They approach each new poem with a backpack full of knowledge and experiences from everywhere else they've been.

• Drawing from personal experiences allows the speaker to dive into unfamiliar topics and gain new insights.

Project V.O.I.C.E. and the Power of Spoken-Word Poetry

The speaker discusses their involvement in Project V.O.I.C.E., an initiative that uses spoken-word poetry to entertain, educate, and inspire. They highlight how spoken-word poetry can break barriers and connect people.

Project V.O.I.C.E.: Entertaining, Educating, Inspiring

• The speaker meets Phil Kaye, another poet who shares their belief in the power of spoken-word poetry.

• Together, they reinvent Project V.O.I.C.E., using it as a platform to entertain, educate, and inspire through spoken-word performances.

• Through traveling and teaching, they witness firsthand how spoken-word poetry can break barriers and create connections.

Overcoming Resistance to Writing Poetry

The speaker describes an exercise involving lists that helps overcome resistance to writing poetry. They explain how sharing lists can lead to discovering commonalities and new perspectives.

Overcoming Resistance to Writing Poetry

• The speaker introduces an exercise involving lists as a way to encourage writing poetry.

• By sharing their lists, participants realize that they have shared experiences, unique perspectives, and new angles of looking at things.

• This exercise helps overcome the belief of not having anything interesting to say and opens up possibilities for storytelling through poetry.

Lessons from Charlotte

In this section, the speaker discusses a lesson learned from a student named Charlotte.

Lesson on Crushes

• Charlotte's third lesson was about not crushing on guys three times her age.

• The speaker asked Charlotte to explain, and she said it was a long story.

• Charlotte wrote her first poem, expressing her crush on Anderson Cooper.

• The poem described Anderson Cooper racing Michael Phelps and being called a god by him.

Rediscovering Wonder

This section focuses on the importance of rediscovering wonder and engaging with the world around us.

Being Cool vs. Being Engaged

• The speaker mentions that being cool means appearing unfazed and unaffected by anything.

• Instead, she chooses to walk through life with open arms, ready to catch both miseries and beautiful things.

• Spoken word poetry helps students rediscover wonder and actively engage with their surroundings.

Accessibility of Spoken Word Poetry

• The speaker teaches spoken word poetry because it is accessible to everyone.

• Not everyone can read music or own a camera, but everyone can communicate in some way.

• Spoken word poetry allows for immediate connection and understanding among peers.

Connection Through Expression

This section emphasizes the power of expression through spoken-word poetry in creating connections.

Rewards of Expressing Yourself

• Spoken-word poetry teaches that expressing oneself can lead to rewards such as an attentive audience or community.

• It allows individuals to connect with others who understand their stories and experiences.

• The speaker shares her personal experience of connecting with students through shared emotions and experiences.

YouTube as an Opportunity for Connection

• With platforms like YouTube, spoken-word performances can reach beyond physical spaces.

• The speaker feels fortunate to have an archive of performances that she can share with her students.

• This provides more opportunities for students to find poets and poems they connect with.

Growth and Exploration

This section emphasizes the importance of growth, exploration, and taking risks in creative work.

Moving Beyond Repetition

• It is not enough to simply express oneself; one must also grow, explore, take risks, and challenge oneself.

• The speaker encourages artists to infuse their work with their unique perspectives and constantly evolve.

Step Three: Infusing Personal Elements

• Step three involves infusing personal elements into one's work while embracing change.

• It is a continuous process that never ends.

Starting with "I Can"

This section highlights the significance of starting with self-belief before embarking on creative journeys.

Taking Step One

• Before reaching step three, individuals must first believe in themselves and their abilities.

• The speaker shares her experiences as a teacher witnessing students' journeys towards self-expression.

Sharing Stories Only You Can Tell

This section emphasizes the importance of sharing unique stories and experiences through creative mediums.

Embracing Individuality

• The speaker aims to tell stories that only she can tell, just like her student Charlotte tells stories only she can write.

• She reflects on different ways to present her story but realizes that it is about embracing individuality rather than finding the perfect format.

Closing Poem

In this final section, the speaker shares a closing poem about resilience and familiarity.

Hiroshima Bombing Metaphor

• The poem begins with a metaphor about the bombing of Hiroshima and the lasting damage caused by nuclear radiation.

• The speaker reflects on her own birth and the sense of familiarity she felt upon entering the world.

Timestamps are approximate and may vary slightly.

The Concept of Reincarnation

In this section, the speaker reflects on the concept of reincarnation and shares a personal anecdote about her belief in it.

Reflection on Reincarnation

• The speaker recalls when her Grandpa Genji passed away when she was five years old and how she believed he would come back as a baby.

• Despite having this belief, the speaker admits that she still struggles with figuring things out and lacks self-confidence.

• She expresses her desire to write a poem that will serve as proof of her existence and be worthy of being displayed in a museum exhibit.

Connecting in an Imperfect World

This section explores the theme of connection in a world filled with challenges and uncertainties.

Striving for Connection

• The speaker shares that her name, Sarah, is derived from a biblical story where Sarah was told by God to do something impossible.

• She acknowledges that she also encounters the impossible every day, particularly in trying to connect with others amidst chaos.

• The speaker emphasizes her aspiration for an "impossible connection" where others truly hear and understand what she feels.

Symbolism from Hiroshima

• The speaker references Hiroshima and describes a burnt wall with a shadow created by someone blocking radiation rays.

• This symbolizes the power of individuals to make positive impacts even in devastating circumstances.

Embracing the Present Moment

This section highlights the significance of living in the present moment and cherishing shared experiences.

Sharing Moments

• The speaker reflects on how meeting someone allows them to share each other's present moments.

• She considers this mutual sharing as one of life's greatest gifts.

Embracing Change and Laughter

• While uncertain about changing the world or understanding reincarnation fully, the speaker finds solace in laughter and forgetting the constraints of time.

• She expresses her commitment to making the most of her current existence and striving to get things right.

The transcript is already in English, so no language adjustments were necessary.