Transcriber: Hoda Nada Reviewer: Keira White
OK. Hi, everybody, we good? Amazing.
So for those of you that haven’t been to a spoken word event before,
we do clicks, so if you hear anything that you like,
feel free to do some clicks.
You don’t have to but if you hear anything you like,
please do feel free.
So yeah, this poem is called ‘Dear Mum’.
I hope you enjoy it.
Dear Mum,
I’m writing again.
Here’s a letter to you, and a line for a friend.
We’ve been trying to be better, but it all feels a little too late now.
The Earth shouldn’t have to quake before the human race has a breakdown.
Not all of mankind are kind men.
I’ve spent
My greatest moments walking in your garden.
Thoughts tangled, talking to trees like I’m Tarzan.
Fasten your seatbelts.
Turn off your engines as penguins see seat melt.
This is not a Happy Feet or the joke on the back of a wrapper,
it’s a little bit of hope, despite the lack of a ladder.
We try to climb it as climate changes.
We might just find it’s more than time we wasted.
You can’t just destroy your home and hope to escape its...
self-destruction.
We need help to function.
Change our ways for today’s adjustments.
I just meant
To check in,
And see how you’re doing.
I am just one of your billion children.
So tell us,
Gaia,
Mother Earth.
As we might not listen to others’ words.
I hope our sisters, and brothers, and others
Learn to take care of the world and what you you have birthed.
Seeds that were planted on our trees that have branches.
Take away “E” and “H” as ‘Earth’ is where art is.
Rearrange the letters as home is where the heart is.
You
Are the artist.
We are just creatures created on your canvas.
A university, we are on your campus.
Humans belong in nature,
So why is it considered human nature to not take care of our planet?
How much longer can we manage?
Maybe 5p is too much to pay for all of our baggage.
So let me tell you what we need:
Oxygen from trees. We need that to breathe.
We’ve already lost 80% of our forests, that we all lack knowledge.
Once we run out of air,
Maybe then we’ll acknowledge.
That we are all trees.
You, and them, and us and me.
We are the stream leading to the sea.
Streaming our songs.
Singing of our root, and our routes and where we belong.
Do not let your roots define your route.
You should use your roots to find your route.
So, put down your map.
Turn off your phone.
Open your heart, but keep your eyes closed.
(Inhales deeply)
Breathe that in.
(Exhales)
Feel that power.
You are that flower that bloomed in a dark room.
Once you put trust in yourself, you want that poetic justice.
Just trust it and love yourself.
Once you take in that water and sunlight.
You’ll blossom.
No forbidden fruits or forgotten truths, you want that Garden of Reason so rise up.
Bask in the sun’s rays.
Plant those seeds of belief that you can believe in,
and be proud of one day and for all days thereafter.
From the roots of love to a gathering of flowers.
We always say give people their flowers.
On Mother’s Day we give flowers.
As you spin so gracefully on your axis,
We practice these actions to stay balanced.
You bring us day and night,
Rain and light;
A way of life, learning lessons.
Loose lips let lullabies flutter by like butterflies.
I wonder why we won’t worry when wounding our world.
I don’t mean to sound bitter,
But I feel like if Mother Nature had Twitter,
(Laughter)
She would be like: “Who on earth are you @-ing bruh?
(Laughter)
Save it.
I wish we could all see the world through the eyes
of Sir David Attenborough.
Here’s to hoping how we heal
How we feel
We say what’s real.
Peace out, peace in has always been my best line.
I hope this letter receives you well, Mum.
Until next time. Peace out, peace in.
Thank you very much.
(Applause)