Wow. I'm a teacher, and I've been listening to "What teachers make" all afternoon (what can I say, it's got to be your voice *lol*). But I'm also a parent, and this one touched me even deeper. I can still close my eyes and remember my grandmother's voice as she read to me. If I'm lucky, someday my son or his children will remember me in the same way.
This makes me remember the wonderful moments of quality time I spent reading to my children "good night moon". Thanks for the focus and sharing. Praise.
I listen to this with my inner voice screaming "Oh yes Oh Yes OH YESS!" I read and I read some more convinced my children wallowed and thrived in the sound of my voice. It didn't matter what I read. I read magazines and menus, books and billboards and street signs, and once getting on the highway in South Florida, reading "North West Palm Beach, South Miami" and my then 4 year old son asked "Mommy, when are we ever going to go to 'Your Ammy?" I realized the spoken word is truly a joyful thing.
taylor, seriously... you have inspired me to be a teacher. I am not quite sure in what just yet, but i want to teach. Thank you for just being you. Scott Allen Stephenson.
I love listening to you. I've probably heard every single one of your poems hundreds of times and when I discover one that I have yet to hear, I get all giddy. I love how the words you say just completely sink in and just makes you say..."yeah, that's what we should be doing" or "that's damn right." So in case you haven't noticed I really admire you! =] And you're one of the best role models any one could have.
Articulate, poignant, powerful words. Thank you for being brilliant and incredibly funny. It is deeply appreciated. How many people can kick ass with their words? Not many. This man can. Intelligence, how refreshing!
Yes, wholeheartedly, read to and with your children. I'm am forever thankful to mine for doing just that every night, and more when it was wanted. Not only a precious skill but an even more blessed collection of memories and quality time.
This poem is an absolute amazing case and point of sex sells. He starts off with such a comedic telling of his sex life, pulling in his audience with humour and sex. Then the poem is just so completely transformed into this beautiful plea for words to be spoken right down to the souls of our children. No matter how many times I hear this poem, it always strikes a chord in me, and I hope that one day, when my children remember how I read to them, that it will strike a chord in them as well.
Hey, everyone hating on e-readers: they're just as much fun to share as paper books. Read aloud from your Kindle if you want to. Read aloud from your library. Both are good.
I love technology and everything it does for us as much as the next person, if not more, but nothing will ever be as good as smelling a new book and hearing the pages turn when I read it. I like to write in my books and put sticky notes in it and fold the pages. You can't do that on a Kindle.
This is so true. I can pinpoint the reason I love literature back to my dad's consistent bedtime stories. The reason I was so motivated to learn to read myself was so I might get through the books a little quicker. To read in the day as well as the night and not just chapter by chapter the way my dad read but as much as I could in a sitting. The best way to educate is a bedtime story.
@araeshkigal I wouldn't read it to a 4 year old, true, but it's definitely something I think an 8 or 9 year old (and certainly above) should be able to handle in some capacity (and I believe family reading shouldn't end just because a child can read too). After all, Anne Frank was a child when she wrote it, and it's subject matter isn't something that can or should be sugar coated. Making them aware of a tragedy like that isn't the same as scarring them for life...they'll probably be fine ;)
Random Lady: I'll sit here and shift a little, pretend the audience won't whisper and giggle, when I one cheek to set free this god awful creeping wedgie. Maybe they can tell, staring, of the discomfort I am bearing, by the sweat rolling weakly down my face, grimaced and wrinkly. I do wish I could just grab it As is the customary habit to reach back, dislodge the damn thing When one thinks that eyes aren't watching.
THink about it, reading out loud is exactly like eating out a chick. You don't like to do it. It is boring as all hell. Eventually your tongue gets tired of moving around so much in all these complicated formations that you need to get a drink of water. And by the end of the night, you still probably haven't "finished" the book. ;)
please keep your homophobic comments to yourself. They aren't funny to anyone but you and your small group of friends. It is honorable to like and know good poetry & has nothing to do with sexual orientation.
Wow. I'm a teacher, and I've been listening to "What teachers make" all afternoon (what can I say, it's got to be your voice *lol*). But I'm also a parent, and this one touched me even deeper. I can still close my eyes and remember my grandmother's voice as she read to me. If I'm lucky, someday my son or his children will remember me in the same way.
This makes me remember the wonderful moments of quality time I spent reading to my children
"good night moon". Thanks for the focus and sharing. Praise.
I listen to this with my inner voice screaming "Oh yes Oh Yes OH YESS!" I read and I read some more convinced my children wallowed and thrived in the sound of my voice. It didn't matter what I read. I read magazines and menus, books and billboards and street signs, and once getting on the highway in South Florida, reading "North West Palm Beach, South Miami" and my then 4 year old son asked "Mommy, when are we ever going to go to 'Your Ammy?" I realized the spoken word is truly a joyful thing.
taylor, seriously... you have inspired me to be a teacher. I am not quite sure in what just yet, but i want to teach.
Thank you for just being you.
Scott Allen Stephenson.
I love listening to you. I've probably heard every single one of your poems hundreds of times and when I discover one that I have yet to hear, I get all giddy. I love how the words you say just completely sink in and just makes you say..."yeah, that's what we should be doing" or "that's damn right." So in case you haven't noticed I really admire you! =] And you're one of the best role models any one could have.
Articulate, poignant, powerful words. Thank you for being brilliant and incredibly funny. It is deeply appreciated. How many people can kick ass with their words? Not many. This man can. Intelligence, how refreshing!
this guy is just wonderful! taylor i love you and your poetry! xxx
Yes, wholeheartedly, read to and with your children. I'm am forever thankful to mine for doing just that every night, and more when it was wanted. Not only a precious skill but an even more blessed collection of memories and quality time.
this inspires me
taylor im glad your here
I started crying the second you mentioned A Wrinkle in Time.
What you say is true about reading to children and reading allowed in general. I think everyone should hear this poem.
This poem is an absolute amazing case and point of sex sells. He starts off with such a comedic telling of his sex life, pulling in his audience with humour and sex. Then the poem is just so completely transformed into this beautiful plea for words to be spoken right down to the souls of our children. No matter how many times I hear this poem, it always strikes a chord in me, and I hope that one day, when my children remember how I read to them, that it will strike a chord in them as well.
That was amazing. (and yes, I was read to as a kid)
ur poems are soo good and you where amazing when u came to highland highschool.
The message is clear. Reading aloud connects us in a special way.
Glorious, as always sir.
I loved that.
Hey, everyone hating on e-readers: they're just as much fun to share as paper books. Read aloud from your Kindle if you want to. Read aloud from your library. Both are good.
Taylor Mali is my hero (:
The last line is
"For us to truly know our own souls."
Great poem with a great message
Love it. Love. Love. Love.
I love technology and everything it does for us as much as the next person, if not more, but nothing will ever be as good as smelling a new book and hearing the pages turn when I read it. I like to write in my books and put sticky notes in it and fold the pages. You can't do that on a Kindle.
Frisson in the last line, I'm still tingling
OMG! My gf does this to me too! I love this Taylor Mali.
"its quality time," even though it doesn't always fit your most desired interest.
Another great one!
@araeshkigal
I had excerpts from it in my reading books in grade school.
@KatLoveMusic ~ Wish you every successs in journey!
GREAT poem!
:)
Ho ho, look out folks, we've got a live one over here.
haha, he can't quit!
But he really is humorous and witty. That's probably because he's a teacher and kids are funny.
This is so true. I can pinpoint the reason I love literature back to my dad's consistent bedtime stories. The reason I was so motivated to learn to read myself was so I might get through the books a little quicker. To read in the day as well as the night and not just chapter by chapter the way my dad read but as much as I could in a sitting. The best way to educate is a bedtime story.
Excellent, good sir.
@goddance721 Have you asked him?
@araeshkigal
I wouldn't read it to a 4 year old, true, but it's definitely something I think an 8 or 9 year old (and certainly above) should be able to handle in some capacity (and I believe family reading shouldn't end just because a child can read too). After all, Anne Frank was a child when she wrote it, and it's subject matter isn't something that can or should be sugar coated. Making them aware of a tragedy like that isn't the same as scarring them for life...they'll probably be fine ;)
That man is Billy Collins, by the by.
this guy makes me want to read
could you teach me how to do it right? ;)
He must've had wonderful parents.
I like it because it's sneaky.
Read to your babies!
Pretty words.
I want him to read to me ^^
@Lehmann108 *groans* i have to say it now...
The Chuck Norris of words.
Ok seriously, I love the message in this poem but who reads their *kid* the Diary of Anne Frank ?
Random Lady: I'll sit here and shift a little, pretend the audience won't whisper and giggle,
when I one cheek to set free
this god awful creeping wedgie.
Maybe they can tell, staring,
of the discomfort I am bearing,
by the sweat rolling weakly
down my face, grimaced and wrinkly.
I do wish I could just grab it
As is the customary habit
to reach back, dislodge the damn thing
When one thinks that eyes aren't watching.
SOUNDS LIKE MY MOM READING
My fiance was born anosmic.
Can't make out the last 3 words
17 people prefer picture books.
THink about it, reading out loud is exactly like eating out a chick. You don't like to do it. It is boring as all hell. Eventually your tongue gets tired of moving around so much in all these complicated formations that you need to get a drink of water. And by the end of the night, you still probably haven't "finished" the book. ;)
please keep your homophobic comments to yourself. They aren't funny to anyone but you and your small group of friends. It is honorable to like and know good poetry & has nothing to do with sexual orientation.
taylor mali needs to quit poetry and start doing stand up. or do both.
...no