This, here, is the reason I have become a teacher -- because every day my undergrads learn something from me and I from them. Every single day. You never know what will hit you next, and I wake up every day and look forward to going to work. Wow. Just wow.
Mr. Mali, you are an inspiration, an instigation, reminding a whole new generation who it is that makes that nation. Teachers learn and children grow, and the more we grow the more we know. We can make this world a better place, a solemn space filled with honest grace. We look around and hope for change, but when we are disappointed, we have only ourselves to blame. I say thank you to someone who can tell me true: I make a goddamn difference, now what about you!
I first heard this poem over 10 years ago. It’s always stuck with me and so I revisit it. Every single time I hear it, I discover something new that resonates with me in a different way. From age 14 to age 28, I have consistently connected with this piece of work and it is incredible that I feel I’ve learned or understood something new about myself and the world with each listen. How cool. Really great writing and a memorable reading.
Taylor Mali reminds me why I love and am absolutely grateful for all my teachers they were great people who taught me a great many lessons that cannot be found in a book!
Taylor Mali is a god. If I'd had more teachers like this in primary and secondary school, I would have started to enjoy learning well before I started college (and, to be honest, I wanted to get into a good colleague but ended up in anal community colleague *sigh* but it was still a wonderful change from high school. good teachers make a world of difference and we need more like Taylor Mali
My daughter Stephanie is a Senior at a catholic school in Mn. Last year during Speech season she had put together a poetry program with the theme of the Perfect Poem. It consisted of" Paleolithic Poet", "Like Lilly Like Wilson' and "Somewhere There is a Poem" by Gina Loring. One of my proudest moment was watching her go up onto the stage and graciously accept the award of MN State Champion in the category of Poetry. Thank you for that
Thank you Mr. Mali. I love all of your works, and I took the liberty today in quoting the last line of this poem in a scholarship application for my goal to receive the best education I can to become a teacher.
Taylor...this poem has inspired me incredibly over the years! I first read it in "The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry," and later I performed it at an open mic night at my school. As a fellow spoken word poet, I must say I admire your work very much! Keep at it, my friend!
You just came to my school and I regret not buying a pen. But now that i found this I can say what a BRILLIANT (I used this word because awesome seemed out of place) job you did. Since i will probably never see you in another situation like today I look forward to watching you on here. :) -Emily DHS
Dear Mr. Taylor Mali, I was givin this poetry for my forensics tournament tomorrow. Everyone I read it to loves it. It flows so easily and I will be so HONORED if I break into finals because of YOUR poetry. Thank you so much for making this. Very powerful. I am also reading, "What Teachers Make" :)
Ok this video has 66,666 views. Just saying.... Mr. Mali you are truly inspiring and it is now one of my objectives to attend at least one of your performances in the near future. OR even to organize one at my University and let others enjoy AND learn. Thank you!
@AdorablyCuteDevil He's a teacher. He prints out his lesson plans without spell-checking because teachers don't make spelling mistakes. (See Miracle Workers for the reference)
@ncxcrunner Naw, I believe Taylor's simple epxlanation. I didn't notice it before but if you look at his t-shirt, you can see the "bug" microphone right there, And just as the voice changes, that's when he has his hand covering it.
Agreed. My point isn't that it's wrong to change your mind, or that it's wrong to change your mind after doing research. My point is that it's wrong to change your mind just because "you're having trouble finding sources, that is, ones that back you up." Taylor seems to think that it's the right response.
@JoJoe121 It's "writing", not "writting". There's only one 't' in the middle. Sorry, I felt I had to point this out, considering the subject of your comment.
@mkarnerfors I think the answer is that I am wearing two mics: the one you see was for the speakers to the auditorium, and the one that's harder to see is the one clipped to the color of my shirt. THAT must be the mic for the video! So when I put my hand on my chin I am blocking the sound, but not for the folks in the theater (which we are NOT hearing.)
@bluidemenace1 I watched that before. I should have been more clear. I was referring to his comment about the mic on his shirt. He said colour not collar-I thought it was ironic. I know teachers make mistakes (been through high school, and my profs still make errors). I just thought it was ironic. I love slam poets and I think he's amazing, I just couldn't help myself pointing out that he made a spelling error :P
I wish I had a teacher like this. The only teacher that I've had that comes remotely close to this guy is a student teacher that will be leaving next week :(
Hm, I noticed a funny thing... when he puts his hand on his chin at 1:25, his voice changes noticeably. Do we really get *that much* sound directly from the esophagus and larynx when we speak?
Yes, isn't it now. I have adopted it myself. Being stubborn for the sake of keeping an opinion at all cost is not a virtue... it's stupidity. This quote encompasses that pretty well. I don't like the followup though... pack your parachute/mind with an anvil and it *will* drag you down to a crash. It matters pretty much what you pack it with. :D
If you have an opinion but cannot find materials to support it, then you have to start thinking why you have the opinion in the first place. If you can't argue the case for your opinion you have to start thinking real hard: "Why do I think this to begin with?" Those who wanted to abolish slavery had no shortage of materials. Any argument saying "Humans are born equal and free" supports the case. And those values were alot older than the struggle to abolish slavery.
It took me a little while for me to realize why this poem sounded so familiar. Did you tailor it to sound like Poe's "The Raven," or is the similarity purely coincidental?
I understand that its important to have an open mind and to change your thoughts when you realize your wrong, but how much research will an 8th grader do before giving up. What does that say about the general urge to learn the truth vs the need to come to a conclusion. PS: Sorry this is my first post to one of your videos if it sounds negative i have really been enjoying a video binge of your poems for a few days
I see what you are saying and I think you make a valid point, however, one can always go back to their original opinion after finding their own evidence as well as outside evidence. If there is absolutely no one else in the world that agrees with you, and you can't back yourself up, then your argument will be pointless.
you have to keep in mind also, on a subject as "subjective" as homosexual adoptions...that what you may constitute as the right answer, is not reciprocated in the mind of someone else. Because this is a topic that is backed by emotions and personal belief rather than empirical evidence of right and wrong.
I agree with you as far as supporting one's ideals with factual evidence but I also understand haikus575's stance. You seem to be misunderstanding of what they're saying. In regards to Mali's poem, Lilly "switches sides" on a MORAL debate simply because not many people agreed with her. So she didn't change her mind because of evidence but merely because it was easier to support the idea. Although, its wonderful if she changed sides because of the persuasive argument. :)
Well in such cases it is extra important to be vigilant of the arguments. If your only argument is "I think it should be this eway, jyust because", then you had better be very humble to the possibility that someone may some day ourtrumph your opinion with real arguments.
He doesn't say anything about beliefs, he is simply inviting her to have an opinion based on factual evidence instead of well.......nothing. He is trying to show the importance of thought before words. It is the lack of that kind of action that breeds racism, sexism and a degeneritive society as a whole. We could all take something from this poem, because after all we could all use more thought before we talk!
Popular does imply right. The popular opinon may have materials for its case but that doesn't mean the arguments add up to something senisble or usable for an academic assignment. Take for instance pitbulls... popular opinion says are ticking timebombs just waiting to rip out a baby's face. Facts that hold up to scrutiny state that they are in fact stable and not aggressive at all. They are just like any other breed of dog. Popular doesn't imply right.
You guys are not getting what I'm saying. Don't you understand that you can be in favor of gay adoption and still think that Lilly Wilson is in favor of it for bad reasons?! Let me give you an analogous situation. In the early 1900s, anyone arguing against slavery would have "had a hard time finding sources to back her up." But they would have been RIGHT! Thank God they didn't give up just because they're position was "unsubstantial."
I did watch it. Several times. But I still disagree. Lilly says, "I can't find support for my belief." He thinks that is good reason for disbelieving it, or at least for arguing for the other side in a paper. I think it's not.
Quite the contrary... whose that say that are those with expert knowledge of dogs. The only ones that say they are not a calm stable breed of dogs is sensationalists and those with preconceived ideas about the dogs. Pitbulls were bred to be non-aggressive and non-prone to randomg biting because these were undesirable qualities (well, D'UH!). This myth about pitbulls being aggressive is just that... a myth, just like Boxers were subjected to in the last century.
This is terrible. To switch sides on a debate just because there aren't enough people on yours. That's like switching football teams because yours isn't good. Except this is much worse. I love Taylor Mali, but shame on you for endorsing the giving up of one's ideals just to fit in. Teach them to find their own voice, not to be shouted down.
I appreciate the meaning behind this poem, but I really don't like it at all. It annoys me to no end. I have to formally analyze it for my English midterm - someone kill me!
Taylor Mali is one of the reasons I am an education major.
This, here, is the reason I have become a teacher -- because every day my undergrads learn something from me and I from them. Every single day. You never know what will hit you next, and I wake up every day and look forward to going to work. Wow. Just wow.
fuck that's a quote. That is an awesome quote. Changing your mind is one of the best ways of figuring out you still have one.
"Minds are like parachutes....It doesn't matter so much what you pack them with, so long as they open at the right time". Such a fantastic thought.
I am, like, completely enthralled by Mr. Mali's poetry.
Mr. Mali, you are an inspiration, an instigation, reminding a whole new generation who it is that makes that nation. Teachers learn and children grow, and the more we grow the more we know. We can make this world a better place, a solemn space filled with honest grace. We look around and hope for change, but when we are disappointed, we have only ourselves to blame. I say thank you to someone who can tell me true: I make a goddamn difference, now what about you!
I first heard this poem over 10 years ago. It’s always stuck with me and so I revisit it. Every single time I hear it, I discover something new that resonates with me in a different way. From age 14 to age 28, I have consistently connected with this piece of work and it is incredible that I feel I’ve learned or understood something new about myself and the world with each listen. How cool. Really great writing and a memorable reading.
Taylor Mali reminds me why I love and am absolutely grateful for all my teachers they were great people who taught me a great many lessons that cannot be found in a book!
Taylor Mali is a god. If I'd had more teachers like this in primary and secondary school, I would have started to enjoy learning well before I started college (and, to be honest, I wanted to get into a good colleague but ended up in anal community colleague *sigh* but it was still a wonderful change from high school. good teachers make a world of difference and we need more like Taylor Mali
My daughter Stephanie is a Senior at a catholic school in Mn.
Last year during Speech season she had put together a poetry program with the theme of the Perfect Poem. It consisted of" Paleolithic Poet", "Like Lilly Like Wilson' and "Somewhere There is a Poem" by Gina Loring.
One of my proudest moment was watching her go up onto the stage and graciously accept the award of MN State Champion in the category of Poetry.
Thank you for that
Thank you Mr. Mali. I love all of your works, and I took the liberty today in quoting the last line of this poem in a scholarship application for my goal to receive the best education I can to become a teacher.
This is one of my favorites. Beautiful.
My language arts teacher showed us this in class. I'm an 8th grader. I love it!
Taylor...this poem has inspired me incredibly over the years! I first read it in "The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry," and later I performed it at an open mic night at my school. As a fellow spoken word poet, I must say I admire your work very much! Keep at it, my friend!
THIS IS AMAZING I CAN'T STOP WATCHING
This is seriously incredible. Inspiring and eye-opening for a new teacher like me.
Oh man! This got me! I'm all choked up right now. LoL I like it!
Love the poem. thank you.
You just came to my school and I regret not buying a pen. But now that i found this I can say what a BRILLIANT (I used this word because awesome seemed out of place) job you did. Since i will probably never see you in another situation like today I look forward to watching you on here. :)
-Emily
DHS
Taylor Mali is like.. totally a genius
Dear Mr. Taylor Mali, I was givin this poetry for my forensics tournament tomorrow. Everyone I read it to loves it. It flows so easily and I will be so HONORED if I break into finals because of YOUR poetry. Thank you so much for making this. Very powerful. I am also reading, "What Teachers Make" :)
this poem is really nice. I expect it will generate much conversation in my class regarding making wise decisions.
my teacher played this in class because we are doing poetry, now i've watched this like 5 times.. i don't know why but I love this poem now lol :))))
One of my favourite poems!
This guy is great. Period.
Ok this video has 66,666 views. Just saying.... Mr. Mali you are truly inspiring and it is now one of my objectives to attend at least one of your performances in the near future. OR even to organize one at my University and let others enjoy AND learn. Thank you!
we watched this in class today. I laughed my head off
I love this poem
You have inspired my whole 9th grade class, and teacher. I love your poem :)
thank you.
My favorite Mali poem. :*)
this guy is so awesome.
my teacher loves him and showed us some stuff. I actually thought it was very good.
I wish I had a teacher like you
Did you watch the video all the way through?
i think that Lily was convinced by the other arguments. He encourages her to think for herself.
@AdorablyCuteDevil He's a teacher. He prints out his lesson plans without spell-checking because teachers don't make spelling mistakes. (See Miracle Workers for the reference)
Yea my history teacher said to watch it too... it makes you think
@ncxcrunner Naw, I believe Taylor's simple epxlanation. I didn't notice it before but if you look at his t-shirt, you can see the "bug" microphone right there, And just as the voice changes, that's when he has his hand covering it.
Like Lily Like Wilson 😂😂😂this is hilarious!
I think the point is much less about "finding sources" than it is about making a realization. it's not what's right or wrong--but what you believe.
Ah, my drama teacher recommended this poem to us. My drama class has got some of the worst like addicts.
Agreed. My point isn't that it's wrong to change your mind, or that it's wrong to change your mind after doing research. My point is that it's wrong to change your mind just because "you're having trouble finding sources, that is, ones that back you up." Taylor seems to think that it's the right response.
@JoJoe121 It's "writing", not "writting". There's only one 't' in the middle. Sorry, I felt I had to point this out, considering the subject of your comment.
I wish I lived in a like free zone!
@mkarnerfors I think the answer is that I am wearing two mics: the one you see was for the speakers to the auditorium, and the one that's harder to see is the one clipped to the color of my shirt. THAT must be the mic for the video! So when I put my hand on my chin I am blocking the sound, but not for the folks in the theater (which we are NOT hearing.)
If you ever want to make a visit to the School of Education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, we'd love to have you. :)
@AdorablyCuteDevil I get that. I was just looking for an opportunity to make a reference. And yes, I noticed the mistake too. I
@bluidemenace1 I watched that before. I should have been more clear. I was referring to his comment about the mic on his shirt. He said colour not collar-I thought it was ironic. I know teachers make mistakes (been through high school, and my profs still make errors). I just thought it was ironic. I love slam poets and I think he's amazing, I just couldn't help myself pointing out that he made a spelling error :P
aaaaaaaaah this is so amazing. I wish you could be my teacher....get certified for AP Lang and come to my high school, quick!
@taylormali Ah, didn't notice the bug before! Once again simple explanations are found for curious obervations. :)
I like, want to be that kind of like, teacher!
*totally, like, enthralled
Like, totally fixed that for you!
I wish I had a teacher like this. The only teacher that I've had that comes remotely close to this guy is a student teacher that will be leaving next week :(
@mkarnerfors No, his hand was just in front of the mic.
amazing. do you have a video performance of how to write a political poem?
Hm, I noticed a funny thing... when he puts his hand on his chin at 1:25, his voice changes noticeably. Do we really get *that much* sound directly from the esophagus and larynx when we speak?
I would say that his position towards the microphone also made a difference (it was all of the sudden a more direct sound).
He invites her to "open her mind" That is the point.
Yes, isn't it now. I have adopted it myself. Being stubborn for the sake of keeping an opinion at all cost is not a virtue... it's stupidity. This quote encompasses that pretty well.
I don't like the followup though... pack your parachute/mind with an anvil and it *will* drag you down to a crash. It matters pretty much what you pack it with. :D
correction:
"is there something, *head tilt* like, wrong with you?"
If you have an opinion but cannot find materials to support it, then you have to start thinking why you have the opinion in the first place. If you can't argue the case for your opinion you have to start thinking real hard: "Why do I think this to begin with?"
Those who wanted to abolish slavery had no shortage of materials. Any argument saying "Humans are born equal and free" supports the case. And those values were alot older than the struggle to abolish slavery.
His point is you have to be committed reason and at lest objectively be able to accept a sound argument.
You make me want to be a teacher.
Keep on. . . .
It took me a little while for me to realize why this poem sounded so familiar. Did you tailor it to sound like Poe's "The Raven," or is the similarity purely coincidental?
I understand that its important to have an open mind and to change your thoughts when you realize your wrong, but how much research will an 8th grader do before giving up. What does that say about the general urge to learn the truth vs the need to come to a conclusion.
PS: Sorry this is my first post to one of your videos if it sounds negative i have really been enjoying a video binge of your poems for a few days
Well said everidaygirl. :D
Bragging about shutting up a child from communication. Weird flex.
I see what you are saying and I think you make a valid point, however, one can always go back to their original opinion after finding their own evidence as well as outside evidence. If there is absolutely no one else in the world that agrees with you, and you can't back yourself up, then your argument will be pointless.
@taylormali I think it's ironic that you spelt collar wrong (sorry I couldn't help myself)
you have to keep in mind also, on a subject as "subjective" as homosexual adoptions...that what you may constitute as the right answer, is not reciprocated in the mind of someone else. Because this is a topic that is backed by emotions and personal belief rather than empirical evidence of right and wrong.
i like totally liked this video, you like know?
If I ever change the world, it's gonna be through one 6th grader at a time.
I agree with you as far as supporting one's ideals with factual evidence but I also understand haikus575's stance. You seem to be misunderstanding of what they're saying. In regards to Mali's poem, Lilly "switches sides" on a MORAL debate simply because not many people agreed with her. So she didn't change her mind because of evidence but merely because it was easier to support the idea. Although, its wonderful if she changed sides because of the persuasive argument. :)
Well in such cases it is extra important to be vigilant of the arguments. If your only argument is "I think it should be this eway, jyust because", then you had better be very humble to the possibility that someone may some day ourtrumph your opinion with real arguments.
For you gamblers out there, what would be the over-under for the number of times someone has vomited on this guy?
He doesn't say anything about beliefs, he is simply inviting her to have an opinion based on factual evidence instead of well.......nothing. He is trying to show the importance of thought before words. It is the lack of that kind of action that breeds racism, sexism and a degeneritive society as a whole. We could all take something from this poem, because after all we could all use more thought before we talk!
Popular does imply right.
The popular opinon may have materials for its case but that doesn't mean the arguments add up to something senisble or usable for an academic assignment.
Take for instance pitbulls... popular opinion says are ticking timebombs just waiting to rip out a baby's face. Facts that hold up to scrutiny state that they are in fact stable and not aggressive at all. They are just like any other breed of dog.
Popular doesn't imply right.
You guys are not getting what I'm saying. Don't you understand that you can be in favor of gay adoption and still think that Lilly Wilson is in favor of it for bad reasons?! Let me give you an analogous situation.
In the early 1900s, anyone arguing against slavery would have "had a hard time finding sources to back her up." But they would have been RIGHT! Thank God they didn't give up just because they're position was "unsubstantial."
I did watch it. Several times. But I still disagree. Lilly says, "I can't find support for my belief." He thinks that is good reason for disbelieving it, or at least for arguing for the other side in a paper. I think it's not.
Haha, this video has 402 likes....
Quite the contrary... whose that say that are those with expert knowledge of dogs. The only ones that say they are not a calm stable breed of dogs is sensationalists and those with preconceived ideas about the dogs.
Pitbulls were bred to be non-aggressive and non-prone to randomg biting because these were undesirable qualities (well, D'UH!). This myth about pitbulls being aggressive is just that... a myth, just like Boxers were subjected to in the last century.
This is terrible. To switch sides on a debate just because there aren't enough people on yours. That's like switching football teams because yours isn't good. Except this is much worse.
I love Taylor Mali, but shame on you for endorsing the giving up of one's ideals just to fit in. Teach them to find their own voice, not to be shouted down.
I appreciate the meaning behind this poem, but I really don't like it at all. It annoys me to no end. I have to formally analyze it for my English midterm - someone kill me!