Today I discovered the spoken word poetry of Sarah Kay and listened to her TED talk.
Here is a poem, Origin Story, of how she first met Phil Kay and they formed a friendship.
Sarah Kay:
It started with a sweater.
Phil Kaye:
I was looking incredibly fly. First day of college orientation as a freshman… plus, I’m the type of guy who’s always trying to make a good impression.
Sarah:
He looked like a tool. And it’s the first week of school, so I’ve got people to meet and things to try. I don’t have time to waste on this guy loitering backstage at a talent show.
Phil:
It started with a freshman talent show, a chance to showcase what I know about spoken word and poetry and try and get some people to notice me.
Sarah:
It started with a technical difficulty –
Phil:
some sort of delay –
Sarah:
somebody’s iPod track wouldn’t play.
Phil:
So I’m stuck waiting backstage when I notice this girl –
Sarah:
and he walks over, stupid sweater and all. There was nowhere to run, backstage was too small.
Phil:
And I’m so nervous about going onstage, I decide to strike up a conversation.
Sarah:
Oh, sorry, I completely got ahead of myself. I totally skipped introductions. My name is Sarah Kay.
Phil:
My name is Phil Kaye. I’m from California –
Sarah:
born and raised in NYC.
Phil:
Let’s see, fun fact about me –
Both:
My mom is Japanese and my dad is Jewish.
Sarah:
Not a common combination, but I think it’s kinda cute. People call me Japajew –
Phil:
Jewpanese –
Sarah:
Ashkenazi kamikaze.
Phil:
And come December –
Both:
Hanukkah and Christmas!
Sarah:
Plus, you should taste my mother’s brisket. Jan has matzah ball soup with noodles…brings my father Jeffrey to his knees.
Phil:
It took mom and dad to raise this lanky, cock-eyed, half-breed.
Sarah:
Well, I think that’s it. My mom, my dad, and me – oh, plus my little brother. He’s eighteen.
Phil:
My little sister is a deadpan firecracker. She’s only eighteen, but she keeps me on track. Her name is Sarah.
Sarah:
My little brother’s name is Phillip.
Both:
Anyway.
Sarah:
Where was I?
Phil:
It started with a backstage interaction.
Sarah:
No, it started with a backward first impression.
Phil:
Okay, well, I’ll tell you where it didn’t start. It didn’t start at fifth grade summer camp.
Sarah:
That’s true, it did not start at junior lifeguards. Even though we were both there.
Phil:
Matching red bathing suits, white t-shirts, visors, and our counsellor –
Both:
Mr. Johnson.
Sarah:
Who probably figured that the shy girl in his morning class –
Phil:
and the skinny kid in his afternoon class –
Both:
were… cousins?!
Sarah:
Probably thought we carpooled over together –
Phil:
in between family photoshoots and fourth of July barbecues.
Sarah:
But instead, we merely co-existed –
Phil:
almost met but always missed it –
Sarah:
spinning around like two sides of a coin.
Phil:
Look!
Both:
We’ve done the research!
Sarah:
And we swear, we’re not related.
Phil:
And we’ve never dated.
Both:
And we’re never… EVER… going to.
Phil:
Because what are the chances of finding someone with your last name –
Sarah:
Japanese and Jewish with siblings called the same?
Phil:
What are the odds of finding someone –
Sarah:
who can finish your sentences –
Phil:
who will let you cut in line –
Sarah:
who knows not to just lend a hand, or an ear when you need them to give you their spine –
Phil:
who is woman enough to be best man at your wedding –
Sarah:
who will keep every secret, save every letter, tell you how you really look –
Phil:
who will remember every single one of your birthdays –
Sarah:
without checking Facebook?
Phil:
What are the odds of finding someone who knows your poetry by heart –
Sarah:
who won’t freak out if you’re hanging out and accidentally fart?
Phil:
Yeah. If you have a date and you need to look fresh, I will let you borrow my hair products.
Sarah:
And if you don’t have a date and you need to look fresh, I will let you borrow… my cousin.
Phil:
I will always see you for the alley-oop.
Sarah:
I will always save you a seat.
Phil:
I will always pick you to be my partner even though you are terrible at handball.
Sarah:
When the fire takes all you have, my home will be your home.
Phil:
When you are old and can no longer remember my face, I will meet you for the first time again and again.
Sarah:
When they make fun of your accent, I will take you swimming because we all sound the same underwater.
Phil:
When Ellis Island tries to erase your past, I will call you by your real name.
Sarah:
When they call your number for the draft, I will enlist to fight beside you.
Phil:
And I will march with you from Selma to Montgomery and back as many times as it takes.
Sarah:
We will stand together against the hoses and the dogs –
Both:
because it didn’t start with us.
Phil:
It started with Lennon and McCartney.
Sarah:
It started with Thelma and Louise.
Phil:
It started with Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin.
Sarah:
Bert and Ernie!
Phil:
Abbott and Costello!
Sarah:
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!
Phil:
Mario and Luigi!
Sarah:
Watson and Sherlock!
Phil:
Pikachu and Charizard! And they could tell you what a miracle this is.
Sarah:
They could tell you how rare this is.
Phil:
But they could tell you how rare friendship always is.
Sarah:
The chances are slim.
Phil:
The cards are always stacked against you, the odds are always low.
Both:
But I have seen the best of you, and the worst of you, and I choose both.
Phil:
I want to share every single one of your sunshines and save some for later.
Sarah:
I will tuck them into my pockets so I can give them back to you when the rains fall hard.
Both:
Friend –
Phil:
I want to be the mirror that reminds you to love yourself.
Sarah:
I want to be air in your lungs that reminds you to breathe easy.
Phil:
When the walls come down –
Sarah:
when the thunder rumbles –
Both:
when nobody else is home, hold my hand –
Phil:
and I promise –
Both:
I won’t let go.
