"What is a boy if not a glowing thing learning what he could get away with." "What is a girl if a not a pulsing thing learning what the world will take from her." "What is being an adult if not a terrified thing desperate to protect a thing you cannot save." Love, love, love this.
I know the father who walked into Starbucks that morning and had shrapnel pulled from his body the next day. I saw him minutes before he walked out. I still remember hearing the bombs and the gunshots, the smoke in the blue sky. I remember the lockdown, the desperate phone calls. We were adults, huddled together in the safety of a tiny room, but we were nothing more than terrified children in the face of terror. Sarah performed in my hometown Jakarta the weekend after the incident. I missed her performance because I was too shaken after the incident to travel anywhere. But that's okay because I still get to hear this incredible poem, one that has come close to my heart. While some people sadly passed away during the incident, you'll be pleased to hear that the father I know survived and has, from I last heard, become determined to cherish his family and spend more time with them.
Thank you for this information. I come back to this poem whenever I am feeling unsure of myself in the world. I imagine myself in situations harder than the ones I face. I’ve imagined myself as that father in that Starbucks and wondered what happened to the real life version. You have eased my worry.
I wasn't expecting to tear up, omg that hit me hard. I remember being at the Australian school in Jakarta at the time an Australian embassy was bombed in Indonesia, and having school called off for a while because of bomb threats. Fast forward to years later my brother is at JIS when the bomb she's talking about goes off, and when I asked if he was ok, he seemed disturbingly unfazed. Strangely enough, even I still feel a lot safer in Jakarta than I do in America. Maybe we've been desensitized growing up in this environment. I don't know what to make of it
I'm trying to come up with words to describe how much this poem rocked me. I was lucky enough to have seen Sara when she was in Jakarta back in January, and that had been my school. I remember me and my friends were all jokes until we realized this was serious, and that we were in lockdown and that so many of our parents were Too Close to the sight of the bombing. I also lived in New York City when 9/11 occurred, but was too young to get what had happened, so I didn't know the fear of a terror attack until January. I still don't have the right words, but what I do know is that this poem is incredible. Thank you for this.
I’m from Jakarta, and when I was 8 I saw a Starbucks blow up right in front of my uncles office so man this poem is freaky when I heard it. It’s so beautiful and her voice is so soothing!
Just was interested in seeing Sarah Kay talk about Jakarta when I came across this randomly on the morning of a September 11th and it was nothing I expected it would be but everything I needed this morning.
Breathtaking and heartwrenching. Once again Sarah fantastically written and spoken. I'll be rolling these words around in my mind for at least a week now.
As a guy tuned in to this whole looming gender war, that comment about guys looking to see what they can get away with, should send alarm bells ringing or put me into full investigative mode. But I can't, because this woman has grabbed me by the heartstrings and the feels are still so terribly real. Poetry has everything to do with politics, but my politics have nothing to do with the quality of her poetry and as always, hers is some top quality poetry.
Wait wait wait... IS THIS A REAL LIFE STORY IN INDONESIA? I'm INDONESIAN AND I KNOW THIS STORY. A GUY BLEW HIMSELF UP IN ORDER TO KILL SOMEONE! WTF?!?!?!?
"What is a boy if not a glowing thing learning what he could get away with."
"What is a girl if a not a pulsing thing learning what the world will take from her."
"What is being an adult if not a terrified thing desperate to protect a thing you cannot save."
Love, love, love this.
that was like _wow_
I know the father who walked into Starbucks that morning and had shrapnel pulled from his body the next day. I saw him minutes before he walked out. I still remember hearing the bombs and the gunshots, the smoke in the blue sky. I remember the lockdown, the desperate phone calls. We were adults, huddled together in the safety of a tiny room, but we were nothing more than terrified children in the face of terror.
Sarah performed in my hometown Jakarta the weekend after the incident. I missed her performance because I was too shaken after the incident to travel anywhere. But that's okay because I still get to hear this incredible poem, one that has come close to my heart.
While some people sadly passed away during the incident, you'll be pleased to hear that the father I know survived and has, from I last heard, become determined to cherish his family and spend more time with them.
Thank you for this information. I come back to this poem whenever I am feeling unsure of myself in the world. I imagine myself in situations harder than the ones I face. I’ve imagined myself as that father in that Starbucks and wondered what happened to the real life version. You have eased my worry.
"And what is being an adult if not a terrified thing, desperate to protect something you cannot save". Excellent, Sarah.
She always makes me have goosebumps, I just love her
me too!!
I love her too
EXACTLY
"Poetry is what I reach for in the days the ash will not stop falling " felt this ❤
once again she has spread her magic through her soothing voice and heart robbing words
I feel like it's been an eternity since I've seen her perform a new poem, but this was worth the wait.
"And the sky outside the classroom is so terribly blue" sooo good
anikavlogs
I think she refers to the empty sky after 9/11 in NY? No planes, less clouds, less pollution, more blue skies?
Thank you world for giving us Sarah Kay
I wasn't expecting to tear up, omg that hit me hard. I remember being at the Australian school in Jakarta at the time an Australian embassy was bombed in Indonesia, and having school called off for a while because of bomb threats. Fast forward to years later my brother is at JIS when the bomb she's talking about goes off, and when I asked if he was ok, he seemed disturbingly unfazed. Strangely enough, even I still feel a lot safer in Jakarta than I do in America. Maybe we've been desensitized growing up in this environment. I don't know what to make of it
I feel you
Yet another beautiful and moving poem from Sarah Kay. She is by far my favorite poet.
Agreed I Cannot Ger Enough Of Her.
I'm trying to come up with words to describe how much this poem rocked me. I was lucky enough to have seen Sara when she was in Jakarta back in January, and that had been my school. I remember me and my friends were all jokes until we realized this was serious, and that we were in lockdown and that so many of our parents were Too Close to the sight of the bombing. I also lived in New York City when 9/11 occurred, but was too young to get what had happened, so I didn't know the fear of a terror attack until January.
I still don't have the right words, but what I do know is that this poem is incredible. Thank you for this.
OMG, Jakarta is my central city of my country and you wrote poem about it and I wrote this before I listen your poem and... OMG. Speechless.
[updare after hearing the poem]
thank you for your poem Sarah, so beautiful.
I’m from Jakarta, and when I was 8 I saw a Starbucks blow up right in front of my uncles office so man this poem is freaky when I heard it. It’s so beautiful and her voice is so soothing!
This poem absolutely broke my heart. Sarah, you’re amazing.
just stop making me cry Sarah! just stop! you are such a beautiful person. you are amazing.
i was so excited when i saw the title because i live in Jakarta and the city doesnt get noticed often. and the poem gave me chills, it was wonderful.
Sarah Kay makes me teary-eyed every time I watch her beautiful and touching poems.
Agreed
Just was interested in seeing Sarah Kay talk about Jakarta when I came across this randomly on the morning of a September 11th and it was nothing I expected it would be but everything I needed this morning.
Gosh I'm in tears! What a gifted lady!
Sarah K my absolute kween !!! Back at it again with the heart-wrenching, magically nostalgia laden prose !!
Breathtaking and heartwrenching. Once again Sarah fantastically written and spoken. I'll be rolling these words around in my mind for at least a week now.
Powerful. Thank you, Ms Kay.
RUclips recommendations did something right for once.
This actually brought me to tears
Im so glad you are still doing this Sarah. Please never stop writing poetry.
been waiting for long
I watched your performance when you were in Jakarta! It was one of the best performances I have seen in my entire life
this is so good. I'm crying
I LOVE HER SO MUCH .
i adore everything about this.
Why I just found this?!!!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💜
This was beautiful. Really, don’t know how else to describe it.
She's so pretty
As a guy tuned in to this whole looming gender war, that comment about guys looking to see what they can get away with, should send alarm bells ringing or put me into full investigative mode.
But I can't, because this woman has grabbed me by the heartstrings and the feels are still so terribly real.
Poetry has everything to do with politics, but my politics have nothing to do with the quality of her poetry and as always, hers is some top quality poetry.
Goosebumps.
You inspire me so much Sarah ❤️
Such a touching poem! Also, Jakarta represent!
Beautiful piece of work.
Thanks for bringing Jakarta to your performance ❣
Just heavenly!
Beautiful🔥🔥❤️❤️
dayum!! this is so good😭😍😍😍
this had me in tears
"Jakarta, November."
Indonesians you know what I mean.
Mesmerised!
Its just so powerful
im indonesian and im so afsjsjzgs about this
I want more of your poetry Sarah. It's been an year now ....
That was truly amazing.
owwhh my heart,, this is so good
I don't know how you can control the atmosphere on stage with your poems. And thank you for "jakarta". that's my city :D
So moving x
Love.
Uppppp yey
Eres impresionante Sarah, siento mucho respeto por ti, por como escribes, por lo que dices, y por como recitas. Un abrazo desde Madrid.
Incredible
SUCH A GOOD POEM
gorgeous
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
iM SPEECHLESSSS MY HOME
She was in Jakarta? I live there and have loved her since her TED talk yet i didn't about this 😭.
Is this referring about that sarinah terrorism accident?
Am I the only one who cried?
The pain in her voice though....
she's been here?
" Pomes are never finished"
Jakarta Nagas represent
I dont live far from that starbucks
Was she in Jakarta when the bombing happen? What could Sarah Kay possibly do in Jakarta, teaching kindergartens?
Wait wait wait... IS THIS A REAL LIFE STORY IN INDONESIA? I'm INDONESIAN AND I KNOW THIS STORY. A GUY BLEW HIMSELF UP IN ORDER TO KILL SOMEONE! WTF?!?!?!?
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️