“I often tell people to stop being afraid of writing bad poetry, or bad anything. I think that a lot of times, when people claim that they have writer's block, or that they get stuck, it's just because they're scared of writing bad things.” PeopleThinkingWritingClaimsScaredStuckBlockBad ThingsBeing AfraidWriter's Block Author:Sarah Kay
“For some reason there's this myth that creativity - [especially] in terms of creative writing - is a gift you either have, or you don't. So when people first start writing, if they write something that's not very good, or if they try and it's difficult, they go, "Oh, I guess I don't have it." That doesn't seem very fair, you have to try and you have to work at it. If we get scared of one bad poem and quit, that's not doing anybody any good.” PeopleIfsWritingTryingFirstsReasonSeemsDifficultTermCreativityCreativeFairsVery GoodScaredMythQuittingCreative Writing Author:Sarah Kay
“I do like celebrating women, I do like celebrating different lifestyles and choices and people and it makes me happy when others find my work empowering.” PeopleDifferentChoicesLifestyleCelebrateEmpoweringMake Me HappyDifferent Lifestyles Author:Sarah Kay
“Ever since I was little, I’ve loved making hand-made cards and presents and arts & crafts for people.” PeopleLittlesArtMadeHandsCardsCrafts Author:Sarah Kay
“Ever since I was little, I’ve loved making hand-made cards and presents and arts & crafts for people. The book gives me a similar experience. I love being able to hold this object in my hands and say, “This is mine. I made this. It is a gift for you.” I love that feeling. Especially since this particular object contains ten years worth of my poems.” PeopleGivingYearsLittlesArtMadeBookFeelingsHandsAbleLove IsObjectsMinesParticularTenGive MeCardsCrafts Author:Sarah Kay
“Nothing is as universal as some good scatalogical humor. I try to shift the frame in which people think about poetry from being distant or "sacred" to being more human, because then I think it becomes easier to feel like poetry belongs to us, is for us, is from us.” PeopleThinkingFeelsTryingHumansEasierUniversalSacredPoetry Is Author:Sarah Kay
“My falling in love with spoken word poetry definitely came out of that time period where all the adults around me were failing to supply me with any answers. Everyone was too busy dealing with things that were more important. I was pretty lost and invisible. And all of a sudden, this world opened up where I could get on stage and perform in front of my peers. People would listen to me and see me, and people would say, "That thing you created was important." And that was so validating and necessary at that specific moment.” PeopleWorldImportantMomentsFallLostAnswersFailingStageFrontsThis WorldPeriodsAdultsFalling In LoveBusyInvisiblePeersToo BusyListen To MeSpoken WordTime Periods Author:Sarah Kay
“Think it's so unfair when people think that you're not a "real artist" unless you're getting paid for it....I personally know so many poets that work a 9 to 5 in a cubicle and come home and write poetry. Their poetry is just as powerful and moving as anything that I've ever written, if not more.” PeopleIfsThinkingKnowsWritingRealHomeMovingArtistPowerfulWrittenPoetPaidPoetry IsComing HomeUnfairReal ArtistsCubicles Author:Sarah Kay
“I love books that create worlds for me that I don't want to leave. I recently lost my entire life to Haruki Murakami - 1Q84. I tell people that book ruined my life in the best possible way. I couldn't think of anything else for weeks after I read it.” PeopleThinkingWorldWayWantBookLostWeekRuined Author:Sarah Kay
“Such a little thing really, a kiss... most people don't give it a moment's consideration. They kiss on meeting, they kiss on parting, that simple touching of flesh is taken entirely for granted as a basic human right.” PeopleGivingHumansLittlesMomentsSimpleTakenKissingMeetingsFleshGrantedConsiderationLittle ThingsTouchingParting Author:Sarah Kay
“Some people read palms to tell your future, but I read hands to tell your past. Each scar makes a story worth telling. Each callused palm, each cracked knuckle is a missed punch or years in a factory.” PeopleYearsStoriesHandsPastOur FutureScarFactoriesOur PastPalmsYour FutureYour PastCrackedKnuckles Author:Sarah Kay
“But in Hiroshima, some people were wiped clean away, leaving only a wristwatch or a diary page. So no matter that I have inhibitions to fill all my pockets, I keep trying, hoping that one day I'll write a poem I can be proud to let sit in a museum exhibit as the only proof I existed.” PeopleWritingTryingI CanMatterLinesProudOne DayPagesCleanLeavingProofHopefulPocketsMuseumsBe ProudDiariesKeep TryingExhibitsPoignantHiroshimaInhibitions Author:Sarah Kay
“Most days it feels as if the world is whirling around me and I am standing still. In slow motion, I watch the colors blur; people and faces all become a massive wash.” PeopleIfsWorldFeelsStillsFacesWatchesColorStandingMassiveBlurStanding StillSlow Motion Book:Pieces of Glass: A Moment of Tragedy, a Lifetime of Faith Source: Pieces of Glass: A Moment of Tragedy, a Lifetime of Faith
“They'll be days like this" my momma said. When you open your hands to catch, and wind up with only blisters and bruises. When you try to step out of the phone booth and try to fly , and the very people you want to save, are the ones standing on your cape. When your boots will fill with rain, and you'll be up to your knees with disappointment And those are the very days you have all the more reason to say "Thank you".” PeopleWantTryingSaidReasonHandsStepsWindRainStandingPhonesDisappointmentKneesBootsBruisesSaying Thank YouCapesMommaBlistersPhone BoothMy MommaDays Like This Author:Sarah Kay
