MrMichaelLaw2011 Nah, I think it's like spider man is a hero. He sees his father as a hero, as he is blinded by his childhood innocence. And then as he got older he realised that his father is a flawed human and not a hero at all.
All of you are so mad at Tim, it's funny. He is commenting that you shouldn't get special treatment because you're gay or straight. slayme3 You think he is a homophobe because he is trying to be equal. Sad. Drew Devine You have good points, and I completely agree, but that isn;t what Tim is commenting on. Ed Riker You didn't even make a good counterargument. You are part of the problem. Just my opinion. Keep an open mind, guys
ThatCharlesKid The poem was not about the fact that he's gay; it's just one point of many, and only a homophobe would get just the one point. That's why the comment is hateful, *as is yours*.
it’s so powerful how he progressively looks happier as he gets younger and doesn’t know how his father is an alcoholic. also the applause at the end made me so happy because he totally fucking deserved all of it.
I have never gotten through this whole poem without crying. The innocence seeping back into his worldview as he progressively climbs backwards in age is so heartbreaking after already acknowledging all the tragedies he had faced in adulthood. This is brilliant
I have become a father to two young children since seeing this, I haven't seen this in years but it popped into my head tonight, it's a reminder to me that my kids will look up to me and i have the responsibility to not let them down
For all y'all haters. Saying someone can't be sad about something because others have it worse is like saying someone can't be happy about something because others have it better.
Maybe if he could make everything else blurry somehow id look straight. That was so amazing. This whole poem is fantastic. It has so much meaning and it is so detailed
64..."Blown away by a young man and his poem, did not see that coming.. 63... made it this far without much poetry or art 62... realized how versatile we humans are as I contemplated learning how to draw or paint. 61... feeling totally inadequate by comparison, realizing that by the time Mozart was MY age, he had been DEAD for twenty-six years! 60... if I could see the future, I'd look forward to turning 64 and hearing that poem... I'd better make a mental note, to thank that poet for touching my heart. Sorry, that's enough of my pseudo-poetry, no disrespect intended.... You're the only real poet here! Thank You, you made my life richer!
@@lizc.671 Thank You. Isn't it funny how when you least expect it, just by accident, you can stumble across something like that that touches your heart? That's Life!
I've seen this a dozen times or more. Each time I find more nuance, understand the metaphors better, gain new appreciation. But one thing does not change, and that is the incredible emotional blows he lands with every carefully chosen phrase. At the end I am inevitably weeping.
He begins telling the story from the ending. his father was an alcoholic and has lied to his family since Patrick was about 3 years old, sinde when he was 10 (i think) he mentioned his father hasnt drunk for 10 or 11 years. The situation gets worse and his father gets hit by a car while drunk and Patrick's life is turned completely upside down. the AA card stands for the 'anonymous alcoholics' organisation, where they meet once in a while to talk about their problems. the goal is to stay dry. as we can conclude from this poem, his father did not get over his addiction
I think the father had really been sober for ten years, and then he started drinking again when he found out about his son being gay. Hence, I think the moral of the story is that kid feels somehow guilty of his father relapse because oh his sexual orientation, but he just could do nothing about it. So sad
When he starts to count and then says "I want to be Spider-Man... or my dad. They're kinda the same", that part always makes me cry. It's been years since I watched this video over and over again and I keep crying at the same exact second.
I come back and revisit this occasionally. It makes me tear up every single time. As a sober father myself, my greatest wish is that my children never have to see me drink or use again.
How can anyone criticize this, he is spilling his heart out to all of us. This is art, I don't care if this is a "poem" or if its a "story," its nothing less than art. If he decides to portray his feelings through writing, that is his way of expressing himself. I think its amazing, that he can have the strength to share with us something so personal. I know what its like to have an alcoholic parent.
This is poetry, not autobiography. Roche has the writing skill and empathic instincts to conceive a life situation, not necessarily his own, but most certainly somebody's. Result: a good poem recited with wit and emotion.
For all those comments saying his life isn't that hard and he needs to stop complaining, you need to learn. Poetry, music, art - these are outlets for emotions. He is expressing his pain through a poem he wrote. It is HIS. His life, his pain, his words. Why you feel you have any power or say in how he should feel is actually completely baffling. Maybe your life has been 'harder', it's not a competition. This poem is moving and inspiring. Patrick Roche you are incredible, and your talent and eloquence will ensure that you do not grow up to be anything like your father. Thank you for sharing your heart and poem. I am so glad this has gone viral. Sending lots of love from Ireland x
This kid's smile is adorable. I also love how he seems to get happier when he explains the happier parts of his life. Like he feels the real emotion. He is not faking it.
Because I don't feel like posting this in reply to hundreds of the comments on this video: Do not compare pain. People all feel things differently. Just because someone's hardships are "worse" than someone else's, it doesn't mean they felt more pain or that the other person's pain is unjustified or invalid. Saying he can't talk about his pain because others have it worse is like saying he can't express joy because others have it better.
Honestly, the youtube comments section is the only thing that makes me wish the internet never existed. So much stupidity, anger, and ignorance. Yes, the kids life is not as hard as others. Yes, some people may not think this is well written. Yes, some people may not think this is poetry. But you know what? He had the balls to stand up in front of the world and speak his mind, tell his story, and try to let other people know that the things they feel and experience are shared by others. For all of you keyboard happy trolls that feel so safe in the comfort of your own bed on your laptop that your parents probably bought for you, I say this. Why can't you do what he did?
Friend, RUclips section is as ingenious invention is the Roman Forums were. Here we gather, we speak, we should on each other, we exorcise the darkness in our hearts and exercise the hallowed joy we find in beauty, art, sophistication, and each others company. Though it is difficult at times, do not hate us Have you ever visited your local landfill? Comments sections are the landfills of the Internet. This is a place where we burry our trash, spiritual andmental and recycled that which is worth recycling. :-)
I hate how people think that just because someone has it easier, they don’t have it hard. Just because someone is dealing with a minor or smaller problem, it doesn’t make it not a problem. There’s always someone who’s gonna deal with something worse than you are, that doesn’t mean you should feel guilty. It’s like saying you shouldn’t be happy for the small things just because there are people out there who have it so much better than you. Something that seems minor to us could be huge and awful for others, remember not to judge :)
We love when teachers share our poems with students! If you have any teachers who it'd be helpful for cause of school restrictions, here's our "classroom-friendly" playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLC5PJtWBigV2f4TM4Gx7IlPe1ummqg5jt
+Slantdude The spiderman line and the age 0 line always hit me hard. They're both so powerful, in my opinion, because it attaches the innocence to it. We know where his story ends up. How the father was a good man and was struggling with addiction.
went over this poem during a workshop. just wanted to point out how he starts at age 21. wanna know what age 21 also is? the legal drinking age. a lot of us didn’t get that at first, but it added a lot to the poem after we realized it. thought i’d share!
I've hardly in my life been able to pick a single favorite of anything- song, artist, movie, book.. and I can't say that Patrick is my favorite poet because there are so many amazing ones that it's impossible to pick. What I can say is whenever I see him in my subscription feed or the suggestion bar, anywhere really, I ALWAYS click on it because he's so incredibly amazing at what he does with this art form. His poems are without question some of the best I've ever heard, dense in meaning, emotion, creativity, power, and just about every good quality a poem can have. They also mean a lot to me personally. I'm just really appreciative of Patrick and his poetry, and I'm so glad I've come across it through this channel.
I have always wished to be as powerful as he is with my poems. Last week i went to my first open microphone. Poured my heart into three poems and read them. One girl cried after the third. I think i owe this guy a lot for that small trophy
if you are in the comments talking about how he is gay, something he spent 3 seconds on, youve completely missed the point of this beautifully composed poem.
I don't think it's quite necessary to have experienced it to understand the poem, in a literal sense I mean. Someone who has lived through this type of stuff, obviously relates to it, though. Anyways, tastes can vary though...
For the people saying its not poetry? Look up the definition of poetry first. To the poeple saying it sucked or a waste, this was a fantastic poem. I wish you guys had properly working ears to hear it.
discovering this ten years later and hearing you share your experience which so deeply mirrors mine, has me feeling a little less lonely, a little less ashamed, but not a moment less of feeling it deep inside my soul. thank you for making 21.
The people who don't "like" or "understand" this have their own opinion..but this was the most powerful poem I've ever heard in my life. I fucking hate poetry almost as much as I hate politics but this was really breathtaking.
And therein lies the rub..."I fucking hate poetry............breathtaking." HUH?!? Ignorance is bliss...of course people have their own opinions, that's what makes life interesting, complex, disturbing, annoying, frustrating. This "poem" was meant to try and shock, yet it doesn't do that b/c much of it doesn't fit his narrative. Too bad b/c he had a strong message and "stylized" it away. SAD IN THE END...yes, that is meant to have various meanings.
My dad is an addict of everything but alcohol. Because of this I didn’t know he was high until I learned when I could tell him high vs sober when I was 15. My mom is an alcoholic. I am scared I’m going in the same direction of my mom. I hate learning from her but it’s so hard to pick and choose what parent to resent and forgive when one has a disease longer yet is understanding and calm and the other has had a recent alcohol addiction (probs stemmed from the stress of my dad honestly) yet judgmental and angry and a screaming blamer. Someone please help me understand who to rely on? The better present or the reliable past?
Props to the guy for having the balls to do something like this infront of what sounded like people his age/at his school. I know a lot of "cool" or "popular" guys that would squirm at the thought of doing something like this.
Patrick is my absolute favorite. I have to try harder than I do for any other poetry not to cry, but it doesn't work very well. I wish I could hear more from him.
Nah because I will always say poetry is organized emotion. The fact that he reversed it so you have the idea of his father's passing the whole time took a lot of pre-mediated thought, trial & error and so much agony I couldn't even begin to imagine how it was like. Every line, every word, every syllable so intentional and heavy that I am beyond surprised that someone can even manage to bear this much pain, organize it, and say it aloud for strangers to hear. I use to think I could never speak let alone write but to be able to harness strength like this I admirable. Bless your soul Patrick...
21 is the legal drinking age... "I wonder if my mother wondered, as so many mothers do, if her baby boy would grow up to be just like his father." Oh my god.
That is by far the most powerful piece of spoken literature that I have ever witnessed. This young man has the ability to stir feelings & emotion into this media-dulled mind. I know he'll move mountains.
If part of the intention of poetry is to provoke thought and emotion, and I most certainly believe it to be, then this is art. Full stop. Saying "anyone could have done it" is one of the classic and most nonsensical views pointed at almost any great work of art. As Ricky Gervais so eloquently educated Karl Pilkington: "Yeah, the point is, NOT EVERYONE DID." I felt for him.
This hit me really hard. I have a mother who's an alcoholic. She was a pretty a darn good parent, but during the past couple of years she started to gain some pretty destructive tendencies (both for herself and our family). So, last December, my father told me and my siblings some of the truth of what she was going through and said that for the sake of the family he was going to file for divorce. We were all really shaken up, but we understood it was for the better. A couple months later my dad posed the request and my mom just...left. No goodbyes or information where she was going, just ran away. I have no idea where she is, what she's doing or if she even has a roof over her head. The only form of contact I've had with her was a very brief text last March. This piece really makes me hope that she doesn't end up like Patrick's dad, but I suppose hoping is all I'm really able to do. Regardless, thank you Patrick. You're an outstanding poet who created something that really hits home for me. I wish you nothing but success.
We all have our fair share of things that we've gone through now instead of comparing our own lives to this boy's and saying "oh he hasn't been through shit I've been through worse..." can we just appreciate that he actually shared his story, I mean that's hard, I know I'd be in tears from the first words if I were him, so let's respect him instead of putting him down
this is such a good poem.. yak actually don’t understand how talented and strong this man is , i love his poems so much. although i don’t relate his writing/speaking helps me w mine
This poem speaks to me on so many levels. Please, to anyone reading this, if a loved one is showing symptoms of any sort of addiction, get help as soon as you can. I'm not speaking from the detached perspective of a medical doctor, but from the fully involved perspective of the son of an alcoholic father. Don't let it destroy you or the ones you love.
Some people are quick to criticize this as a rant, or "whining", but don't realize that the only thing that ties us together as humans is the ability to reason and empathize with other's problems. Though this "work of art" (to me), is made to extract every bit of empathy and emotion, is also a very personal one. Only his eyes have seen what he has, and he can only tell one unique perspective, this is where art comes from, to make something personal a universal thing for everyone else. Takes a lot of talent and maturity to share something so deep in such a moving way. Stay Strong Patrick!
That was really cool way to present his life. Lots of focus yet vague enough to not oversimplify his life. He didn't just complain about his life but did his life justice by sharing it. Really well done, and I hope he continues to live strong!
Patrick, please don't listen to these incredibly unintelligent people. You are an amazing poet and person and I can't believe I had the honor to see you perform live. Keep it up!
If you mean the super bowl and AA chip part, what i understood from the next line is that after being sober for so long, he starts drinking again and the AA chip shows up again- so they are wondering who to blame : ) and stuff. I think that's what you meant. wow, this comment got really long lol
That is how I remember my father as well. We haven't spoken in almost 10 years now days. He was always so beligerantly angry when he drank, and that seemed to be the only thing he did. I look back at it now and I'm so thankful he showed me how NOT to act. I learned how to be the best father I could possibly be, by just not emulating him. Proud daddy of a son and a daughter these days who will NEVER see me give into the same demons that haunted my childhood.
Well done! I'm a writer and poet and I've never seen a speak poem before. This was incredible, extremely thought provoking, and heartfelt if not heartbreaking. The talent shines through. Very well done
Patrick, this is soooo good, brilliant. You've found a way to condense that history and all of those different kinds of pain into something devastating and heart-opening. Thanks so much, and don't you ever stop writing.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
"I wanna be Spiderman or my dad. They're kinda the same."
This is just too sad.
Risodair I kinda get the reference but not really. Could someone explain it to me.
*****
Oh okay because I was thinking of (Swinging) or how he can't be there like he wants to. (For Mary Jane/Gwen Stacy) Ya know?
MrMichaelLaw2011 Nah, I think it's like spider man is a hero. He sees his father as a hero, as he is blinded by his childhood innocence. And then as he got older he realised that his father is a flawed human and not a hero at all.
Lauren Hannon Agreed.
yes. that line got me in the feels.
"Like if he could make everything look blurry id somehow look straight" that hit me so hard
I'm so confused with that line, can you explain it to me?
+reenuhs He's gay. And his father is an alcoholic. And by drinking enough until hes drunk he would maybe not think about his son being gay
@@tarosnows straight is a word americans use to define someone as "not gay" and gay meaning of course, homosexual.
Me too
That line broke my heart...
Some of these poems feel like a punch to the gut and i cant tell if i love it or hate it but its addicting
Ikr!! I have spent the last two hours watching slam poetry.
You have just described the last six months of my life.
Ugh the ones by Neil Hilborn
all of those are so passionate
Especially "OCD", that poem hit so hard.
"The Future" gets me the most of Neils.
"Like maybe if he makes everything else seem blurry, I'll look straight" right in the feels!
Dark lord of all! I was just saying, "that shit deep" over & over again. I was shocked, and moved at the same time
tbh slay era!!! the feels are so feeling that they make me all creamie in my Pants
One of the best things about this poem is how his facial expressions change in an instant. Amazing.
Real just like how my pants changed when i saw his face!!
My favourite part is that at the end after he finishes everyone just starts shouting "OOHH!!!!!!!!"
Powerful stuff.
the way he reversed the order of telling his story really pulled up how he saw things as he got older, damn
i feel for the guy
im feeling you ;)
Incredibly moving, touching, heartfelt, creative and resonating. So much said and learned in a few minutes
Tim Duncan You are, for being so "clever".
Tim Duncan Unfortunately with comments like this, yes I guess we are.
All of you are so mad at Tim, it's funny. He is commenting that you shouldn't get special treatment because you're gay or straight.
slayme3
You think he is a homophobe because he is trying to be equal. Sad.
Drew Devine
You have good points, and I completely agree, but that isn;t what Tim is commenting on.
Ed Riker
You didn't even make a good counterargument. You are part of the problem.
Just my opinion. Keep an open mind, guys
Tim Duncan
Is that all you got out of it? That the guy is gay? Homophobes like you make me sick.
ThatCharlesKid
The poem was not about the fact that he's gay; it's just one point of many, and only a homophobe would get just the one point. That's why the comment is hateful, *as is yours*.
"I wanna be spiderman or my dad they're kinda same" this line brought me to tears :(
Me too! Every time.
smash
Gets me every time too
it’s so powerful how he progressively looks happier as he gets younger and doesn’t know how his father is an alcoholic. also the applause at the end made me so happy because he totally fucking deserved all of it.
I have never gotten through this whole poem without crying. The innocence seeping back into his worldview as he progressively climbs backwards in age is so heartbreaking after already acknowledging all the tragedies he had faced in adulthood. This is brilliant
This poem has stayed in my head rent free since 2014
Every now and then I come back here....
Me too.
girl its 2022 get out of it
I have become a father to two young children since seeing this, I haven't seen this in years but it popped into my head tonight, it's a reminder to me that my kids will look up to me and i have the responsibility to not let them down
For all y'all haters. Saying someone can't be sad about something because others have it worse is like saying someone can't be happy about something because others have it better.
you're right! and in the beginning he says his father died...
SO TRUE LAURA!! AMEN AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING WHAT MANY THINK. BUT DO NOT SAY. GOD BLESS YOU !
/e dance
Well said
Patrick has a gift
honestly patrick is a gift
+Maggie Burns YAASSSS
Maybe if he could make everything else blurry somehow id look straight. That was so amazing. This whole poem is fantastic. It has so much meaning and it is so detailed
+Shelby Hill That was one of my favorite line :o
64..."Blown away by a young man and his poem, did not see that coming.. 63... made it this far without much poetry or art 62... realized how versatile we humans are as I contemplated learning how to draw or paint. 61... feeling totally inadequate by comparison, realizing that by the time Mozart was MY age, he had been DEAD for twenty-six years! 60... if I could see the future, I'd look forward to turning 64 and hearing that poem... I'd better make a mental note, to thank that poet for touching my heart.
Sorry, that's enough of my pseudo-poetry, no disrespect intended.... You're the only real poet here! Thank You, you made my life richer!
nice! lol
+251omega cool!
This was so beautiful , Sir.
I'm so glad you found poetry.
Everyone needs it.
Hey, this comment is 5 years old but I just wanted to say.. it made me smile. So thanks.
@@lizc.671 Thank You. Isn't it funny how when you least expect it, just by accident, you can stumble across something like that that touches your heart? That's Life!
I've seen this a dozen times or more. Each time I find more nuance, understand the metaphors better, gain new appreciation. But one thing does not change, and that is the incredible emotional blows he lands with every carefully chosen phrase. At the end I am inevitably weeping.
the ending always gives me chills.
I didn't understand it..care to explain?
He begins telling the story from the ending. his father was an alcoholic and has lied to his family since Patrick was about 3 years old, sinde when he was 10 (i think) he mentioned his father hasnt drunk for 10 or 11 years. The situation gets worse and his father gets hit by a car while drunk and Patrick's life is turned completely upside down. the AA card stands for the 'anonymous alcoholics' organisation, where they meet once in a while to talk about their problems. the goal is to stay dry. as we can conclude from this poem, his father did not get over his addiction
Daniel Bottom Thank you sir!
I think the father had really been sober for ten years, and then he started drinking again when he found out about his son being gay. Hence, I think the moral of the story is that kid feels somehow guilty of his father relapse because oh his sexual orientation, but he just could do nothing about it. So sad
.. climax
When he starts to count and then says "I want to be Spider-Man... or my dad. They're kinda the same", that part always makes me cry. It's been years since I watched this video over and over again and I keep crying at the same exact second.
no bitches?
I come back and revisit this occasionally. It makes me tear up every single time. As a sober father myself, my greatest wish is that my children never have to see me drink or use again.
I cried.
How can anyone criticize this, he is spilling his heart out to all of us. This is art, I don't care if this is a "poem" or if its a "story," its nothing less than art. If he decides to portray his feelings through writing, that is his way of expressing himself. I think its amazing, that he can have the strength to share with us something so personal. I know what its like to have an alcoholic parent.
This is poetry, not autobiography. Roche has the writing skill and empathic instincts to conceive a life situation, not necessarily his own, but most certainly somebody's. Result: a good poem recited with wit and emotion.
well it is a poem so get over it
For all those comments saying his life isn't that hard and he needs to stop complaining, you need to learn. Poetry, music, art - these are outlets for emotions. He is expressing his pain through a poem he wrote. It is HIS. His life, his pain, his words. Why you feel you have any power or say in how he should feel is actually completely baffling. Maybe your life has been 'harder', it's not a competition. This poem is moving and inspiring. Patrick Roche you are incredible, and your talent and eloquence will ensure that you do not grow up to be anything like your father. Thank you for sharing your heart and poem. I am so glad this has gone viral. Sending lots of love from Ireland x
THE ONE WHO FUCKING SCREAMED AT THE END IS M E
I get goosebumps every time
This kid's smile is adorable. I also love how he seems to get happier when he explains the happier parts of his life. Like he feels the real emotion. He is not faking it.
Because I don't feel like posting this in reply to hundreds of the comments on this video:
Do not compare pain. People all feel things differently. Just because someone's hardships are "worse" than someone else's, it doesn't mean they felt more pain or that the other person's pain is unjustified or invalid. Saying he can't talk about his pain because others have it worse is like saying he can't express joy because others have it better.
Honestly, the youtube comments section is the only thing that makes me wish the internet never existed. So much stupidity, anger, and ignorance. Yes, the kids life is not as hard as others. Yes, some people may not think this is well written. Yes, some people may not think this is poetry. But you know what? He had the balls to stand up in front of the world and speak his mind, tell his story, and try to let other people know that the things they feel and experience are shared by others. For all of you keyboard happy trolls that feel so safe in the comfort of your own bed on your laptop that your parents probably bought for you, I say this. Why can't you do what he did?
Friend, RUclips section is as ingenious invention is the Roman Forums were. Here we gather, we speak, we should on each other, we exorcise the darkness in our hearts and exercise the hallowed joy we find in beauty, art, sophistication, and each others company. Though it is difficult at times, do not hate us
Have you ever visited your local landfill? Comments sections are the landfills of the Internet. This is a place where we burry our trash, spiritual andmental and recycled that which is worth recycling. :-)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for your comment. just thanks..
Wesley Dobbie I love the way it is written... I wish I could talk about my childhood like that... it takes a lot of courage
I hate how people think that just because someone has it easier, they don’t have it hard. Just because someone is dealing with a minor or smaller problem, it doesn’t make it not a problem. There’s always someone who’s gonna deal with something worse than you are, that doesn’t mean you should feel guilty. It’s like saying you shouldn’t be happy for the small things just because there are people out there who have it so much better than you. Something that seems minor to us could be huge and awful for others, remember not to judge :)
I 100% agree with this comment.💪 I really dislike when people belittle each others experiences.
this was my first slam poetry video I ever saw. thank you 8 grade English. now I'm in 10 grade and I love poetry.
We love when teachers share our poems with students! If you have any teachers who it'd be helpful for cause of school restrictions, here's our "classroom-friendly" playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLC5PJtWBigV2f4TM4Gx7IlPe1ummqg5jt
It was my first video too. I was just browsing RUclips and I found it :)
the spiderman line got me tearing up
+Slantdude The spiderman line and the age 0 line always hit me hard.
They're both so powerful, in my opinion, because it attaches the innocence to it. We know where his story ends up. How the father was a good man and was struggling with addiction.
+Juan Monter doesn't sounds like a good man to me
+Juan Monter *sound
went over this poem during a workshop. just wanted to point out how he starts at age 21. wanna know what age 21 also is? the legal drinking age.
a lot of us didn’t get that at first, but it added a lot to the poem after we realized it. thought i’d share!
Yea but I think the reason we don't get it because the usual drink age is 18
girl i got that straight away idiot.
I've hardly in my life been able to pick a single favorite of anything- song, artist, movie, book.. and I can't say that Patrick is my favorite poet because there are so many amazing ones that it's impossible to pick. What I can say is whenever I see him in my subscription feed or the suggestion bar, anywhere really, I ALWAYS click on it because he's so incredibly amazing at what he does with this art form. His poems are without question some of the best I've ever heard, dense in meaning, emotion, creativity, power, and just about every good quality a poem can have. They also mean a lot to me personally. I'm just really appreciative of Patrick and his poetry, and I'm so glad I've come across it through this channel.
The "OOOOOO" AT THE END SCARED ME SO MUCH I THOUGHT I WAS WATCHING SUPA HOT FIRE
It took me until 13 that he was counting years and i face palmed so hard
Wow, this was a very powerful poem :O
CreepsMcPasta wow I never thought a scary story maker would watch these!
i know right
I go back, over and over again, and listen to this. By far one of the best poems ever written. And how it hurts.
this.
i started crying at 20.
Y o.O
He got me at the point where he does his homework at starbucks....hugs to everybody
jsmith91245 lol
jsmith91245 shit-for-brains.
Is it ok if I cry?
Sure. Wanna tissue? I bought like 8 packs before coming to this channel
JumperSC no
Bob Guddermen idiot..
Yes
GokuDaMan U Assho.
Reading the comments, it amazes me because I went to school with him since elementary school. Always knew he was destined for great things :D
Is he as amazing in real life? (Idk if this sounds really cringeworthy but oh my god)
Toni Styles He's a really nice and down to earth guy. Also really sweet and super smart
I have always wished to be as powerful as he is with my poems. Last week i went to my first open microphone. Poured my heart into three poems and read them. One girl cried after the third. I think i owe this guy a lot for that small trophy
this made me remember one post said "Here's to girl who their dad broke their heart before any guys could"
Minh Châu Nguyễn Trần ...Hey Minh can you please tell me from where I can hear this poem..which you have mentioned...
Niraj kumar actually i don't think it was a poem, it's just a photo on weheartit or google i got for a long time ago
Minh Châu Nguyễn Trần ...These lines are perfectly fit for my beloved thats y I was egar to know..any ways thanks a ton
What poem is that
if you are in the comments talking about how he is gay, something he spent 3 seconds on, youve completely missed the point of this beautifully composed poem.
All the people saying they don't get the poem, or they don't like the words, OBVIOUSLY have not had to live with an alcoholic guardian
exactly, because not liking this HAS to mean to are stupid and cant be that maybe you actually dont enjoy his poetry out of personal taste
Lucas Manuel Prosdocimo I didn't mention the word stupid at all
Joyy W didnt say you did
Lucas Manuel Prosdocimo What was your point in posting it on my comment?
I don't think it's quite necessary to have experienced it to understand the poem, in a literal sense I mean. Someone who has lived through this type of stuff, obviously relates to it, though. Anyways, tastes can vary though...
WHY IS PATRICK ROCHE SO TALENTED. LITERALLY SEARCHED FOR ALL THE VIDS HE'S IN AND REWATCHED LIKE ALL OF THEM
For the people saying its not poetry? Look up the definition of poetry first. To the poeple saying it sucked or a waste, this was a fantastic poem. I wish you guys had properly working ears to hear it.
discovering this ten years later and hearing you share your experience which so deeply mirrors mine, has me feeling a little less lonely, a little less ashamed, but not a moment less of feeling it deep inside my soul. thank you for making 21.
The people who don't "like" or "understand" this have their own opinion..but this was the most powerful poem I've ever heard in my life. I fucking hate poetry almost as much as I hate politics but this was really breathtaking.
And therein lies the rub..."I fucking hate poetry............breathtaking." HUH?!? Ignorance is bliss...of course people have their own opinions, that's what makes life interesting, complex, disturbing, annoying, frustrating. This "poem" was meant to try and shock, yet it doesn't do that b/c much of it doesn't fit his narrative. Too bad b/c he had a strong message and "stylized" it away. SAD IN THE END...yes, that is meant to have various meanings.
Gary Brown Well, say whatever you want, but it did shock me. It touched me. And that is the last I will say about it.
the way his story telling can be so disturbing but still precious. it’s an uncomfortable form of beautiful.
that last line left my heart *pounding*
Something about this hit me so hard. I legitimately started bawling after it ended, no warning, just tears.
okay I watched it again and I started crying again
poetry goals right here. that was incredible, like i literally have no words.
you also have no words bc u cant speak
I'm speechless. This is so beautiful. Congratulations on being so brave and sharing your story in such a special way.
this is literally the best thing i have ever heard
watching this a year later and still cried at the end.
That was incredible!! subscribed after watching this video.
Glad to have you here!
Varsha A V I did the same
same
To that person who said that Patrick is one of her favorite poets, in one of the comments here in RUclips, thank you.
Incredible. Went into this one without reading the comments prior and was not disappointed. Very talented guy.
Hi, Patrick. I'm also Patrick. Alcoholic dads aren't fun.
I feel you, Patrick.
Me too Patrick and Amber
Thanks, Nicole.
My dad is an addict of everything but alcohol. Because of this I didn’t know he was high until I learned when I could tell him high vs sober when I was 15. My mom is an alcoholic. I am scared I’m going in the same direction of my mom. I hate learning from her but it’s so hard to pick and choose what parent to resent and forgive when one has a disease longer yet is understanding and calm and the other has had a recent alcohol addiction (probs stemmed from the stress of my dad honestly) yet judgmental and angry and a screaming blamer. Someone please help me understand who to rely on? The better present or the reliable past?
Hi. Im not patrick but my father drinks too:) does that make me a patrick?
Props to the guy for having the balls to do something like this infront of what sounded like people his age/at his school. I know a lot of "cool" or "popular" guys that would squirm at the thought of doing something like this.
I am such a dork, I'm just in my room watching all these videos and clapping like a madwoman. this channel is brilliant!!!
I'm a 38 yr old father of 4, at work watching this, and in tears...I've never been brought to tears before like this. Thanks you!
wow!!!!
MY FAVOURITE POEM BY MR PATRICK ROCHE. WOW.
If you could see my face right now.
Dude you are everywhere that I am
+Damien John I can >:)
Patrick is my absolute favorite. I have to try harder than I do for any other poetry not to cry, but it doesn't work very well. I wish I could hear more from him.
1:57 is where you lost me. This made me cry so much :'(
Nah because I will always say poetry is organized emotion. The fact that he reversed it so you have the idea of his father's passing the whole time took a lot of pre-mediated thought, trial & error and so much agony I couldn't even begin to imagine how it was like. Every line, every word, every syllable so intentional and heavy that I am beyond surprised that someone can even manage to bear this much pain, organize it, and say it aloud for strangers to hear. I use to think I could never speak let alone write but to be able to harness strength like this I admirable. Bless your soul Patrick...
/e dance
21 is the legal drinking age...
"I wonder if my mother wondered, as so many mothers do, if her baby boy would grow up to be just like his father."
Oh my god.
I've stumbled upon this poem years ago. every now and then it pops up in my mind, I go listen and still cry every fkn time. such a good poem!
Simply incredible. This, and the ode to the women on long Island are some of the greatest spoken word poems I've ever heard. Chills everytime
This poem made me weep. This is entirely the experience.. Just wow.
That is by far the most powerful piece of spoken literature that I have ever witnessed.
This young man has the ability to stir feelings & emotion into this media-dulled mind.
I know he'll move mountains.
If part of the intention of poetry is to provoke thought and emotion, and I most certainly believe it to be, then this is art. Full stop.
Saying "anyone could have done it" is one of the classic and most nonsensical views pointed at almost any great work of art. As Ricky Gervais so eloquently educated Karl Pilkington: "Yeah, the point is, NOT EVERYONE DID."
I felt for him.
creamy
this still makes me tear up after so many years
This hit me really hard. I have a mother who's an alcoholic. She was a pretty a darn good parent, but during the past couple of years she started to gain some pretty destructive tendencies (both for herself and our family). So, last December, my father told me and my siblings some of the truth of what she was going through and said that for the sake of the family he was going to file for divorce. We were all really shaken up, but we understood it was for the better. A couple months later my dad posed the request and my mom just...left. No goodbyes or information where she was going, just ran away. I have no idea where she is, what she's doing or if she even has a roof over her head. The only form of contact I've had with her was a very brief text last March.
This piece really makes me hope that she doesn't end up like Patrick's dad, but I suppose hoping is all I'm really able to do. Regardless, thank you Patrick. You're an outstanding poet who created something that really hits home for me. I wish you nothing but success.
I'm speechless. To say that was amazing would be an understatement. Wow.
We all have our fair share of things that we've gone through now instead of comparing our own lives to this boy's and saying "oh he hasn't been through shit I've been through worse..." can we just appreciate that he actually shared his story, I mean that's hard, I know I'd be in tears from the first words if I were him, so let's respect him instead of putting him down
this is fantastic and i dont think ive felt a shiver travel that quick down my spine
For those of us who were their parents best friends as little kids but grew to ne their worst enemies. This hits so hard...
Still makes me cry everytime. Beautiful.
this is such a good poem.. yak actually don’t understand how talented and strong this man is , i love his poems so much. although i don’t relate his writing/speaking helps me w mine
This poem speaks to me on so many levels. Please, to anyone reading this, if a loved one is showing symptoms of any sort of addiction, get help as soon as you can. I'm not speaking from the detached perspective of a medical doctor, but from the fully involved perspective of the son of an alcoholic father. Don't let it destroy you or the ones you love.
My friend Jordan recommended this poem to me, especially after I told her I have been meaning to listen to it. I am so glad I heeded her advice.
Some people are quick to criticize this as a rant, or "whining", but don't realize that the only thing that ties us together as humans is the ability to reason and empathize with other's problems. Though this "work of art" (to me), is made to extract every bit of empathy and emotion, is also a very personal one. Only his eyes have seen what he has, and he can only tell one unique perspective, this is where art comes from, to make something personal a universal thing for everyone else. Takes a lot of talent and maturity to share something so deep in such a moving way. Stay Strong Patrick!
I agree 100000%
That was really cool way to present his life. Lots of focus yet vague enough to not oversimplify his life. He didn't just complain about his life but did his life justice by sharing it. Really well done, and I hope he continues to live strong!
I think I just held my breath for 2 minutes and 48 seconds.
Ive first seen this in middle school and I still come back to watch it to this day.
Patrick, please don't listen to these incredibly unintelligent people. You are an amazing poet and person and I can't believe I had the honor to see you perform live. Keep it up!
This piece is amazing. And he honestly is amazing. This poem though, I kinda just collapsed in bed crying. It hits home
I love his approach to spoken word. His Siri poem was great as well!
First time I heard this poem back in 2014, I got goosebumps.
It’s 2019... still have goosebumps.
Such an amazing poem!!!
Oh my goodness, this had me in tears!!! Single mother to 3 boys and God I’m shook rn.
Was not expecting this when I clicked on the video, pretty mad stuff, hope he stays strong!
I started balling at 15. Holy shit this was powerful.
Mandy Mikayla can you explain that line
If you mean the super bowl and AA chip part, what i understood from the next line is that after being sober for so long, he starts drinking again and the AA chip shows up again- so they are wondering who to blame : ) and stuff. I think that's what you meant. wow, this comment got really long lol
That is how I remember my father as well. We haven't spoken in almost 10 years now days. He was always so beligerantly angry when he drank, and that seemed to be the only thing he did. I look back at it now and I'm so thankful he showed me how NOT to act. I learned how to be the best father I could possibly be, by just not emulating him. Proud daddy of a son and a daughter these days who will NEVER see me give into the same demons that haunted my childhood.
this still hits so deep even when i've listen to it again after 6/7 years.
Well done! I'm a writer and poet and I've never seen a speak poem before. This was incredible, extremely thought provoking, and heartfelt if not heartbreaking. The talent shines through. Very well done
Remind me to never read youtube comments again, they just ruin the video
no one has ever spoken truer words, I keep reading them with hope but I should really stop
True
Agreed echo. What if instead of noticing our differences, we searched for similarities....
he deserved those cheers. hes brave to go up to stage and recite a poem like he did ..
Patrick, this is soooo good, brilliant. You've found a way to condense that history and all of those different kinds of pain into something devastating and heart-opening. Thanks so much, and don't you ever stop writing.
this was the first slam poem ive seen in a while that actually made me cry. probably one of my all time faves..
I swear I shouted louder than the guy at the end of this video.