Poetry In Voice

A few nights ago I was randomly searching Google for teacher-related stuff, typing in the search engine  things like: "Awesome Teachers", "Inspirational Teachers", all in the good-nature that I was semi-preparing for my futuristic job at a high school somewhere teaching English and SOSE... that's the plan anyway, after this year's over, once the books are published, time for a teaching endeavour. And in all of my infinite distractions, I managed to come across this amazing initiative called, "Poetry In Voice", what it is, is basically the organisers of this event collect the winners of each school (I think it's around Canada) and they host a poetry recital competition. Must say, I was completely gobsmacked at the talent I saw. In the poetry recital, students were to choose a poem (could be written by anyone) and then they are to be judged on their recital skills. These students are just so inspirational. I usually fall back on my page when I recite poetry, but things like the tone of voice, expression, etc they posses is just amazing, just goes to show all the possibilities when one is performing. These students have inspired me to become even a more 'rounded' poet. Here's some clips about what I mean... be prepared to be WOW-ed!

This first one is by Sydney Gilchrist, she is reciting a poem called "Plenty" by Kevin Connolly. Love the straight-forwardness, conviction and humour she brings to life in her recital.

I'm usually not a fan of John Keat's poetry, as I find it often obscure and riddled with Old English language, "ye olde", "dath", "nay", yeah you get the point.. but Amelia Druskis, brought "La Belle Dame Sams Merci" to life with her hauntingly beautiful voice, notable also is the believability of what she is saying shines through- in other words, she owned this performance.

Awwww man, this next guy is awesome, WOW, such a suave, dusky and smooth voice Jonathan Welstead has. I know that he is the winner of "Poetry In Voice" 2012, and I can see why. This is Jonathan Welstead reciting Preludes by T.S. Eliot.

Estera Musiala has got conviction. She draws you in with such a commanding facial expression and the way she says the words. Estera Musiala reciting "Chicago" by Carl Sandburg. Remind you of another recent YouTube sensation...??? :D

Malvika Chowdry reciting Gitanji 35 by Rabindranath Tagore. Truly inspirational recital.

And the winner for the 2011 "Poetry In Voice" recital competition is Alexander Gagliano. Hear him recite this piece of poetry: "Journey Of The Magi" by T.S. Eliot. Silky stuff.

As a final note, I think it's important to mention what the host of this event said when posing the question: "Why Poetry?". He made a note simply that poetry is beautiful, that is why. Also, I need to say to all the students who competed in this, WOW amazing job everyone, I have to admit it is better than any slam poetry or poetry recital event I have ever been to in Brisbane or Australia for that matter. A+.

Wow, what a voice. GO Birdy.

"Skinny Love". Birdy's been playing piano since age 7, and writing since age 8. Wow, what a talent.

"Without A Word" by Birdy. THIS is pure talent, I am truly blessed to be in a generation that still has artists like this.

"People Help The People" by Birdy.

eye to eye with you a galaxy in the distance

gorge excursion

schoolchildren examine

their e c h o e s

Across The Stars

Arguably one of the greatest love songs of all time. I think a lot of songs in the mainstream can lack a depth of feeling that is so easily expressed in "Across The Stars", without using any words. For me, as soon as I listen to this song, I feel all gushy inside and am taken to a fantasy-land where I am filled with love in a far away place somewhere. I mean, really, here I am trying to use my words to capture the beauty that exists in this song, sure I'm a poet, but I really don't think words are appropriate here. I think Rumi has gotten close to what I'm trying to say here, when he says, "Only from the heart can you touch the sky". Just listen.

And here we have a piano version...

Well that was the last thing I needed. Just fell down the stairs.

Productivity

Having a fractured ankle has given me heaps of time to spend focusing on my writing. My manuscript for the first book is looking very positive. Just a reminder to readers of this blog that my first book will be released mid-next year in April, 2013. I have so many loving people in my life at the moment, who I owe such beautiful poetry and inspiration to. Special thanks go to namely my family, friends, church mates, teacher mates, The League Of Extraordinary Poets (http://leagueofextraordinarypoets.wordpress.com/), Graham Nunn (http://anotherlostshark.com/), you have made my life so much more enriched in more ways than you know! Some sample haiku from the manuscript:


star after star
one is never alone
at night


school graffiti
on the auditorium walls
incorrect spelling


midnight river swim...
all these stars
flowing through me


smiling
beside the family portrait--
crescent moon

(c) Vuong Pham

It's not always black and white...

SO yesterday was my birthday, was a very nice day mainly consisting of resting the fractured leg, there are still fragments of pain every now and then, but most of it is negated by amounts of sleep. Sleeping avoids the pain. For my birthday, I had a lovely dinner with the family, bamboo noodle soup with pork. For my present, I got this jewel of a book, which I spent part of the day reading. It's called "It's not always black and white", which sums up a lot of how I think in general. Here's the title and a sample page. 

Yep, I just had to...

Broken Leg Jokes:

An old lady, who lived on the third floor of a boardinghouse, broke her
leg.

As the doctor put a cast on it, he warned her not to climb any stairs.

Several months later, the doctor took off the cast.

"Can I climb stairs now?" asked the little old lady.

"Yes," he replied.

"Thank goodness!" she said. "I'm sick and tired of shinnying up and down
that drainpipe!"

P.S. this has been me above (cast, and elevating the leg) the last week recovering. 

Teachers Dancing Behind Students

Ever heard of the new phenomenon that's going around YouTube and schools, particularly in the United States, "Teachers Dancing Behind Students"? Well, basically what happens is, we have a video clip where the student is being interviewed about something, whilst unaware that in the background is a teacher or teachers is/are dancing behind the students to pick fun at them! Some impeccable dance moves from some of the teachers featured in this clip here, including the 'sprinkler', and especially the one where they hold their legs and start swivelling it around (don't know the name of that dance move, but it's hilarious!). Kudos to the people who have started this new craze haha, I sooo want to do this one day!!! :-)

And...another hilarious one!

Also, another new craze, "Flash Mob". Here is a Teacher's Flash Mob. This is a good bit of fun! :-)

Amazing Grace

Jesus Culture-- You Won't Relent

I love this song, very uplifting. Trust in God. 

Skinny Love by Birdy

I love this outstanding, new talent. Such a pure and innocent voice. This is "Skinny Love" by Birdy.

Heaven-Inspired

This is for your glory.

"We each hold within us a scrap of stardust, a little glory that cannot be destroyed. Whatever dark engulfs us, nothing can put out its light."

--Pam Brown, B. 1928


"The World is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning"

--Ivy Baker Priest (1905-1975)


"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."

--Maori Proverb


"Rest in patience. Above the storm the sky is clear and strewn with silent stars".

--Pam Brown, B. 1928

And finally a haiku that was heaven-inspired:


midnight river swim...
all these stars
running through me

(c) Vuong Pham, 2012