Welcome to the first session of The Metaphorical Bards, the poetry book club I’m launching here on The Poetry Nook. While this may be called a ‘book’ club, I’m not focusing too hard on the word ‘book’. Instead I’ll share a poem for us to discuss.
This month we’re kicking off with Sarah Kay’spoem, Brother. (You may need to turn your sound up this video is rather quiet.)
Poetry can evoke some vulnerable feelings, so please be considerate of each other during the discussions.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this poem. As a bit of a guide I’ve included some questions below, answer as many or as few as you like, or add any of your own observations or questions.
Would you recommend this poem to someone else? Why?
Who do you think will enjoy this poem?
Did you find it easy to follow this poem? Why?
What emotions and memories came up for you?
Did you know of Sarah Kay before reading this poem? If not, would you read more of her work? If you did, which poem did you first read/listen to?
What phrases did you enjoy?
What phrases didn’t you enjoy?
How would you rate this poem?
Bonus
If you fancy turning your hand to this poem then you could write:
A response to this poem
Your own poem about a sibling (whether an actual sibling or one you might want)
I've never heard such a bedazzling and awe-inspiring string of metaphors to describe a person. Bravo! And her reading of it shows love and wonder and her ability to gaze at her brother with the same bedazzlement as I, the listener, enjoyed. Thank you.
Very Nice. I read at the Bowery Poetry Club around the same time! Like the healthy love she has for her sibling - parents are doing a good job. Her style of word delivery is what I call post modern flow that the Beats started and Rap cemented into popularity - a fast, locomotive moving, metaphor spitting, hyper aware, and sensitive reflections loaded with personal meaning of how the outward world affects on her being - in this poem, her brother. I am more of an old school - the space is equal to the note rhyme flow and inflection points style. But I enjoy it all and this sweet girls' ode to her bro is refreshing in our stressed out world.
1) Yes absolutely. This poem reminds me of my own relationship with my brother. I'd definitely share it with him, but also with anyone who has a younger brother full of swag.
2) Anyone with a sibling they love and are also a touch frustrated/bemused at sometimes.
3) The flow of this poem makes it easy to follow along with. Also having returned to this poem several times over several years helps!
4) There is a lot of love and laughter in this poem. It brought up memories of spending time with my own brother. A few memories come to mind, one of when he had a top hat for Christmas, arguing over who is the 'golden child' and various adventures we have.
5) Sarah Kay was my introduction to spoken word poetry, I discovered her the way many do now, through her TED Talk and the poem 'If I Should Have A Daughter' or 'B'.
6) 'Jaywalked your way out of the womb' always catches me straight off. Also 'okay just salt and pepper then'
7) 'There are no seat belts on your side of the car' - I have complicated feelings with this line. It's a great description but invokes momentary panic in me every. single. time.
8) I love this poem, I love the feel and the images. The stories and the love. I wish there was a better video quality of it. I'd give this 8/10. (9/10 for the written version.)
I've never heard such a bedazzling and awe-inspiring string of metaphors to describe a person. Bravo! And her reading of it shows love and wonder and her ability to gaze at her brother with the same bedazzlement as I, the listener, enjoyed. Thank you.
Very Nice. I read at the Bowery Poetry Club around the same time! Like the healthy love she has for her sibling - parents are doing a good job. Her style of word delivery is what I call post modern flow that the Beats started and Rap cemented into popularity - a fast, locomotive moving, metaphor spitting, hyper aware, and sensitive reflections loaded with personal meaning of how the outward world affects on her being - in this poem, her brother. I am more of an old school - the space is equal to the note rhyme flow and inflection points style. But I enjoy it all and this sweet girls' ode to her bro is refreshing in our stressed out world.
Love the whole experience, beautifully delivered!
Great! Loved the line “jaywalking out of the womb”. Instant classic.
Here are my own thoughts:
1) Yes absolutely. This poem reminds me of my own relationship with my brother. I'd definitely share it with him, but also with anyone who has a younger brother full of swag.
2) Anyone with a sibling they love and are also a touch frustrated/bemused at sometimes.
3) The flow of this poem makes it easy to follow along with. Also having returned to this poem several times over several years helps!
4) There is a lot of love and laughter in this poem. It brought up memories of spending time with my own brother. A few memories come to mind, one of when he had a top hat for Christmas, arguing over who is the 'golden child' and various adventures we have.
5) Sarah Kay was my introduction to spoken word poetry, I discovered her the way many do now, through her TED Talk and the poem 'If I Should Have A Daughter' or 'B'.
6) 'Jaywalked your way out of the womb' always catches me straight off. Also 'okay just salt and pepper then'
7) 'There are no seat belts on your side of the car' - I have complicated feelings with this line. It's a great description but invokes momentary panic in me every. single. time.
8) I love this poem, I love the feel and the images. The stories and the love. I wish there was a better video quality of it. I'd give this 8/10. (9/10 for the written version.)
Sarah Kay , a great story teller in truth, isn’t it ?
She really is. If you enjoyed this poem, I highly recommend checking out more of her work
🙃😊