Not all poetry wants to be storytelling. And not all storytelling wants to be poetry. But great storytellers and great poets share something in common: They had something to say, and did.
Interpretation
Poetry and storytelling serve different purposes, but both require a desire to express meaningful ideas.
In her quote, Sarah Kay highlights the distinction between poetry and storytelling while acknowledging their shared essence of creative expression. Both forms of art have unique methods and intentions, yet the greatest creators in either discipline possess a profound drive to communicate their thoughts and feelings, thus reflecting the transformative power of art in conveying human experiences.
In practice
In a workshop on creative writing, to emphasize the importance of unique voice in writing.
When I hear other people's stories, I like to believe that they contribute to my 'Encyclopedia of Human Experience.' The stories I hear help me expand my definition of what love is, what pain feels like, what sacrifice means, what laughter can do.
Spoken word poetry is the art of performance poetry. I tell people it involves creating poetry that doesn't just want to sit on paper, that something about it demands it be heard out loud or witnessed in person.
Life will hit you hard in the face, wait for you to get back up just so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.
But in Hiroshima, some people were wiped clean away, leaving only a wristwatch or a diary page. So no matter that I have inhibitions to fill all my pockets, I keep trying, hoping that one day I'll write a poem I can be proud to let sit in a museum exhibit as the only proof I existed.
If I should have a daughter, instead of "Mom," she's going to call me "Point B," because that way she knows that no matter what happens, at least she can always find her way to me.
To me, having the courage to tell your own story goes hand in hand with having the curiosity and humility to listen to others' stories.
So many cartoonists draw the same year after year. When they find a style, they stick with it. They don't mess with innovation, and they become boring.
Man cannot do without beauty, and this is what our era pretends to want to disregard.
In those days it was either live with music or die with noise, and we chose rather desperately to live.
At its best, film should be like a ski jump. It should give the viewer the option of taking flight, while the act of jumping is left up to him.
When I design buildings, I think of the overall composition, much as the parts of a body would fit together. On top of that, I think about how people will approach the building and experience that space.
You can't have it all one way - be on the telly and the radio and make lots of money - and not offer anything to your followers when they need you.
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