"The Type" by Sarah Kay
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- "The Type" by Sarah Kay.
This poem is inspired by a line from "Detail of the Woods" by Richard Siken: "...Everyone needs a place. It shouldn't be inside of someone else."
Performed for NYC-Urbana.
Sarah Kay is founder and co-director of Project VOICE, has performed on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, & at the TED Conference.
What i love about Sarah, is her profoundness.
Every single sentence, pause and gesture is full of sincerity, meaning and feeling.
A true form of expression.
Thank you for being you, in all that you are.
You are a beautiful being in a time where a lot of people struggle to be only a quarter as sincere as you are.
Really a ray of hope for the general human character, maybe even a rolemodel.
You inspire me, and for that i thank you.
i first watched this when i was 13, thinking about how cool all these metaphors sounded and how wise she must be. i turn 23 this year and i'm re-watching it teary eyed because i now understand what those metaphors really mean
"It is hard to stop loving the ocean." Oh, man. That did it.
"Some men will want to hold you like The Answer.
You are not the answer."
Just started to cry... boy did that hit home. Gorgeous piece.
Hi, I don't understand that line, could you elaborate for me? Thanks a bunchhh!
aisyahfatanah i think it means that sometimes you are not the type of person your partner really want or need and also dont try to change yourself to be the person he/she wants. but that's just my opinion.
aisyahfatanah I think it means that you are just a person, you're not someone's guardian or savoir or God. You're just one person... You cant fix them, you cant always help them. Explicitly women, you are not someones mother. You have no obligation to be someones grace.
Other men would see you as the answer to their prayers or to their problems, other men would pass on to you the obligations of solving their inner crisis or their insecurities.
I found this poem when I was in 6th grade I didn’t quite understand it now at 22 I wholeheartedly understand every word. After long thought the line “ maybe his hands just found you first hit” I was in love with a man who was in love with another women but settled and messed around with me. Then inevitably chose her. This deeply resonates with my spirit. Thank you Sara
'Let the statues crumble.
You have always been the palace.
You are a woman who can build it yourself.
You were born to build.'
Being loved is not the same thing as loving.
When you fall in love, it is discovering the ocean after years of puddle jumping.
Shirlyn West I love that one!! Next to the one "You have always been the place." I love it when something is compared to the ocean because it's so deep and wonderful, and at the same time, perilous.
'You have always been the place.'
Ok, I'm done. **tears**
If I should have a daughter, I would play this for her, every night, before she falls asleep.
"You can let them look at you, but do not mistake eyes for hands or windows or mirrors"
What do you think this means?
30stmred 92 I feel like it's about not seeing a person's eyes on you and assuming that you can decipher who they are because of this (windows) and to not ever use their willingness to look at you as a means of judging yourself (mirrors)
+OldCompanyNewCompany great answer
+OldCompanyNewCompany great answer
+OldCompanyNewCompany great answer
Everything I watch with her makes me cry a little.
"If he leaves you with a car alarm heart, learn to sing along."
There are many sentences that i truly love through out this poem, but i have got to say that has to be one of my favorites. I have learned to sing along. thank you for your comment.
Dawna Svedman
i'm so glad i'm not the only one, i love every single line but that was the one that stuck with me. no problem!
Miriam Gallacher
Can you please explain what you think this line means? Thank you!
yeah sure! it probably means different things to different people, but to mean it means that if someone ('he') hurts you and leaves you, you might become suspicious of love and unwilling to give affection back. she uses a car alarm as an example bc its like if someone tries to come close to or touch your heart, an alarm goes off and you back away. so by 'singing along', you accept this part of yourself as who you are and try to adapt to it by not letting it define your relationships, therefore 'singing along'. this might be completely wrong but its just my interpretation, i hope that helped at all. sorry for the length! x
Miriam Gallacher
Thanks for elaborating! That makes sense, I was just confused on the 'sing along' part. My interpretation/assumption was that people would want to overcome that mistrust and suspicion instead of keep living with it. But I like your view on 'not letting it define your relationships'...in a way, maybe this is overcoming that 'alarm'.
This empowers women of all ages. Be with someone who knows what they have, when they have YOU
This poem makes me cry every time. The regrets, the definitions, the expectations, the conflicting individuality....this hits so close to home for me.
Sarah has always been good for my soul. i've been listening to this since high school as a reminder of my strength. Thanks Sarah!
years since I first heard this, and now i can understand what a car alarm heart means, and how you learn to sing along, thank you Lord for poetry, thank you Lord for Sarah Kay
"Know this..Know you are the type of woman
who is searching for a place to call yours
Let the statues crumble
You have always been the place
You are a woman who can build it yourself
You were born to build."
i find every single one of Sarah's poems to be inspirational. she's truly a master poet, and someone who knows whats going on.
What I love most about this poem is its gentle intensity. Sarah's words have such power, but she's so gentle.
"being loved is not the same thing as loving"
Endless amounts of empowering humility and acceptance. This is a beautiful poem.
walterkeys Nodge X Hey! when u get a chance if u cud check out my poetry and music page that would be awesome:) and if u wud gime some criticism and feed back that wud be awesome 😎😎
Okay, I’ve watched this at least 40 times at various points in my life. I always loved it, but I didn’t understand it until I ended a relationship with a man who struggles with substance abuse. I get it now. Thank you Sarah Kay.
"You are not the answer"... that hit me hard.
That was beautiful. After months of feeling inadequate and not knowing why I am allowing myself to be in a position that makes me feel inadequate, that piece gave me more peace and a sense of being unshaken. Even if just for a few moments, it will be a part of my consciousness that guides me every now and then, whenever I am willing inside to recall it.
This will always and forever be my favorite poem of all time. I found this poem at exactly the right moment in my life last year, and it still amazes me that even after a year this poem can mean something totally different to me, with someone else completely in mind. I aspire to be like Sarah Kay one day, and I hope I can meet my role model very soon.
This gets me every time. I don't think there will ever be a time in my life when it is not relevant. Every girl needs to see this.
As always, Sarah is great inspiration. Even though "there is hurt that cannot be fixed by band-aids or poetry" her poems are always there to try. Sarah, I hope you are reading this: thank you for being yourself.
This poem spoke to me so much. She spoke every word so kindly and perfectly. I'm going to come back to this video whenever I'm not feeling like I'm being all that I can be for myself. I am so happy I found this. I needed it and a bunch of other people need to hear it, too. Lovely.
I revisit this every single year and every year I learn something new from this poem.
I have known of Sarah Kay for years now and everything I had heard from her has been beautiful. Hearing this today has been almost like fate. I needed this. Thank you so much
Wow. She is laying down all sorts of wisdom. Make yourself into something nice to look at and people will just look at you. Make yourself into something nice to touch and people will just touch you.
Everyone has a place it shouldn't be inside someone else .
Crazy. She’s inspired me so much and I’ve been writing poetry for 4 years. I am now writing an author spotlight on her for an assignment.
"Let them see what a real woman looks like" hits me every single time. 💜
Sarah Kay always makes me feel comforted. There is so little else that makes me feel as incredibly safe as her words do, and I don't think I will ever stop loving that feeling or her work.
This poem is so powerful! It left me gasping for air. Sarah Key, your spoken word validates my existence. Thank you!
chills. she is wonderful.
That line about tucking in what you still call mistakes at night just made me sob.
'Let the statues crumble. You have always been the place' - thats is beautiful. Simple and serene.
I heard this when I was 24 or 25, at 30 I can now understand this, Lord, may you bless Sarah Kay with more wisdom to share.
All of her poems are just so magnificent, she deserves better camera quality.
Sarah Kay never disappoints. Amazing.
I can't stop loving the ocean but he is gone now. This made me cry and smile at the same time. Thank you.
Most of us have definitely had our own oceans that we can't seem to stop loving, in time it will get easier. her words are strength that we need to be reminded of. thank you for your comment it always helps to know others can relate.
Simply amazing... i love the expression she does after saying "you can let them"
She could read off a grocery list and I would still get teary eyed. Her voice gets me every stinkin' time
"forgive yourself for the decisions you made, the ones you still call mistakes when you tuck them in at night"
I actually started crying
Sarah Kay, you give words to emotions and bare wisps of thoughts I can barely contemplate, let alone resolve. Thank you.
You can't help but have so much love for Sarah Kay. She's amazing.
"You are not made of Metaphors...not APOLOGIES...not excuses" :'(
"You are a type of woman who can build it yourself...You were born to build..."
Awww.....i've got goosebumps now
That was so beautiful. This poem reminds me of her recent one where she spoke of the quote, " The universe has already made everything for you." (something like that) It's the way that everything has already been made but she adds a new meaning to it
She's the kind who, whenever she speaks her words, always finds that easy path to my mind and my heart all at the same time. I learn and feel at the same time. I love this girl. Always amazing. :D
Its crazzy how much this poem describes what I went through this year...it was absolutely incredibly powerful and just wow...brought me to tears...loved it
Gosh with this poem and her "If I Should Have a Daughter" poem...she's gonna be the best mom ever.
Thank you, I fell in love with your poetry since I read "If I had a daughter", you are inspiring,
Every time I watch Sarah Kay perform, I learn something new about myself..
You have changed so many lives, including mine. You have a gift, and I thank you, I thank you a million times over for saying the things that my soul has been screaming, but my lips could never even whisper.
"when you fall in love it is discovering the ocean after years of puddle-jumping" beautiful.
I am a guy and think this is absolute genius and true. My sisters, I hope you all find your own oceans, whoever that may be.
I keep finding myself coming back to this again and again... It helps.
I've never been compelled to comment on a youtube video until now. I have watched this four times nonstop now. This is so important. xx
Can I just say that nothing has ever spoken to my heart the way that this has. I feel like someone has looked into my soul. So beautiful.
I met Sarah a couple of months ago and she is as beautiful in person as she is in her poems. Such an inspiration.....
I am a man and I love when a woman respects her self just like she described it. amazing!!!
I first saw her preform this poem from button poetry... when she said “this poem is for my best friend”... it says a lot, because us girls really only have each other, I don’t mean this in a “fuck men” type of way... we’ll just always be there for one another... about 2 years ago I gave my best friend a journal with this poem written on it...thanks Sarah Kay...
I find this poem extremely inspiring. Sarah, you have once again blown me away. Thank you so much.
This made me cry, her words are absolutely beautiful.
She is my hero.
her voice is so calming
I'm not a huge Sarah Kay fan, she's great, but not my type of poetry that captures me. But I do actually feel like this is her strongest piece. I really love it.
I can watch this over and over and over again. Thank you, Sarah Kay.
This poem is always good! I have been obsessed with it for years!
Sarah Key - you are amazing - thank-you for being you!!!!!!!!
she sings the notes of my heart with such grace. can't even.
I love this poem -- because it doesn't make sense which shows it's personal to her. She's speaking her thoughts about a situation and you can take it to mean whatever you like. I've been this girl and i know so many girls who do this search for their place and worth and answers in someone else when their only in yourself! sarah kay is a babe!
It does though. It makes sense.
I have been waiting for months for this poem to get posted! I saw her perform it in January and it still brings me to tears.
Sarah, this is beautiful and thank you, thank you
I really felt that
Sara's great, she came to my school and it was honestly the highlight of the year.
Forgive yourself for the decisions you have made, even the ones you call mistakes
...when you tuck them in at night.
Imad Ahmed and know this
❤
I heard her perform this when she was in Bombay and I am really happy to see this online. This poem fills me in with a redeeming sort of melancholia and power. :) It's absolutely brilliant.
Hi...just want to know Which place in Bombay she performed ?
I love Richard Siken's poetry and I love this spoken poem just as much.
Best line in this is 'when you fall in love it's like discovering the ocean after years of puddle jumping.' That is such an amazing line.
To watch this was an assignment for a class i am taking and so glad that it was. So beautiful as well as powerful. To hear these words definitely reminded me of a time where i was looking for that place within someone else, every women could benefit from these words of inspiration. Thank you.
You might want to consider watching her "If I Were To Have a Daughter" It's just a beautiful
I listen to this every few months and sometimes every few weeks. These are words that remind me of so so much. So good.
I cannot thank you enough Sarah for all you've shown me through your amazing words.
Who else gets really excited when they find a Sarah Kay poem they haven't heard?
Thank you for making me cry and meaning it.
Dear Sarah,
You may just have saved a life with this.
Thank you! You are beyond gifted!
Goosebumps. Absolutely beautiful, so honest and infinitely inspiring and important, for all women. Applaud.
I love the message of "forgiving yourself". Absolutely beautiful.
I love the way she shatters the ridiculous expectations of the other gender. Freeing us from each other and bringing us together at the same time.
I'm in love with your poetry style. . .I can feel your heart and passion in every word...
Something about her voice, man. It gets me every damn time.
That's right women love yourselves. I really like this! BRAVO!
"When you fall in love it is discovering the ocean after years of puddle junk."
lol "puddle jumping" ;)
thank you :'))
I promised when she started that there would be no tears & I broke it unhesitatingly when she said "forgive yourself"
Wow. Sarah never fails to move me to tears.
And I'm crying
truly an amazing poem. this is all i need to remember in my life. thank you Sarah Kay.
"When you fall in love, it is discovering the ocean after years of puddle jumping."
This cuts like a knife.
Sarah Kay makes me lost and found and hopeful all at once.
If you grow up the type of woman men want to look at,
you can let them look at you. But do not mistake eyes for hands.
Or windows.
Or mirrors.
Let them see what a woman looks like.
They may not have ever seen one before.
If you grow up the type of woman men want to touch,
you can let them touch you.
Sometimes it is not you they are reaching for.
Sometimes it is a bottle. A door. A sandwich. A Pulitzer. Another woman.
But their hands found you first. Do not mistake yourself for a guardian.
Or a muse. Or a promise. Or a victim. Or a snack.
You are a woman. Skin and bones. Veins and nerves. Hair and sweat.
You are not made of metaphors. Not apologies. Not excuses.
If you grow up the type of woman men want to hold,
you can let them hold you.
All day they practice keeping their bodies upright-
even after all this evolving, it still feels unnatural, still strains the muscles,
holds firm the arms and spine. Only some men will want to learn
what it feels like to curl themselves into a question mark around you,
admit they do not have the answers
they thought they would have by now;
some men will want to hold you like The Answer.
You are not The Answer.
You are not the problem. You are not the poem
or the punchline or the riddle or the joke.
Woman. If you grow up the type men want to love,
You can let them love you.
Being loved is not the same thing as loving.
When you fall in love, it is discovering the ocean
after years of puddle jumping. It is realizing you have hands.
It is reaching for the tightrope when the crowds have all gone home.
Do not spend time wondering if you are the type of woman
men will hurt. If he leaves you with a car alarm heart, you learn to sing along.
It is hard to stop loving the ocean. Even after it has left you gasping, salty.
Forgive yourself for the decisions you have made, the ones you still call
mistakes when you tuck them in at night. And know this:
Know you are the type of woman who is searching for a place to call yours.
Let the statues crumble.
You have always been the place.
You are a woman who can build it yourself.
You were born to build.
This poem is just so amazing. It really reminds of 500 days of summer in a way.