I am doing a project on this poem in my literature class, and I have also been listening to a lot of old Dear Hank & John podcast episodes. When I picked this short poem, I thought, "I wonder if John has heard of this poem." I was right, haha!
Having an author read their own work is always fascinating to listen to. I love how he half chants, half sings the poem. It adds a meaning to it that is lost when the poem is read inside your head.
In a way, this poem reminds me of the climate crisis today. We are able to live happily, ignoring the hell we are building for ourselves within our country of money. It left me speechless.
This was wonderful. His chant-like reading gave the poem such depth that a regular read-through couldn't achieve. It almost sounded like a Rabbi's impassioned sermon to me. This poem really spoke to me.
I love this channel! I am dyslexic, poetry is one of my favorite forms of writing and one of the hardest for me to read. This helps so much and makes me so happy. Thank you!!
This is one of my favorite poems so far of this series, and definitely my favorite reading. It's the first that sounded different out loud than it did in my head; Ilya's voice added so much.
While I thoroughly enjoy all the poems from this channel, this one, truly, made my jaw drop. I wasn't watching the video, just listening as I was putting away dishes, and while I was slightly confused at the start(was this some accent I hadn't heard) I heard the words "deaf republic" and it clicked. I pushed down the urge to pinch my phone from my pocket and watch, and instead just listened. The way Ilya read this, with his cadence and kind of chanting, gave me goosebumps, the (forgive us), the way he transformed the word money. Absolutely stunning, I had to relisten and watch! Please have him back
wow his reading was so surprising but loved it! especially how the volume suddenly drops, and the words really hit you even more. loved the poem (as always :))
At the beginning, I was curious which country, which war the author was referring to. I figured out that the poem was about “us” just in time for that brutal parenthetical, (forgive us) - took my breath away.
What a brilliant reading! The sing-song quality of the delivery (which isn't necessarily apparent in the text itself) brings another layer of depth and irony to the poem.
I came to this channel in hopes that poetry could be brought to my level and made accessible to me, as it has always eluded me before. Turns out, it's still lost on me. I just don't get it. I really don't. The comments here are filled with people screaming how luxurious the words are and how they have shook them to the core. All I can do is stand back and feel like I'm watching people in an art gallery. People aimlessly staring at a white canvas with a single strip of black and reflecting on the complexity and boldness of the artistic vision. People who seemingly look deeply to find meaning in an object that by definition has no meaning. People who do so because they feel like if they don't, they aren't cultured enough. Well, consider me uncultured. I'm the person standing there wondering why anyone would pay so much for a single swipe of paint.
I have links for your art problem: This ruclips.net/video/2LNiJK3rK9s/видео.html And this ruclips.net/video/phYyRNrhZwc/видео.html And ruclips.net/video/67EKAIY43kg/видео.html They really helped me because I felt the same. As for the problem with poems... give it time. One day a poem will come and grab your heart and shake it up. You will look at other poems in a new light once you've found that poem. The best way to find that poem is to continue to expose yourself to poetry. I also find myself in dissonance with the comments more often than not, don't worry, people differ and that's a good thing. If we were all the same, life would be boring. You say you don't understand art and poetry while your own comment is so beautifully written and flows well! Perhaps you yourself are an artist, a poet who just needs someone to point it out. One of my newest poems is just that, a message to my friend he interpreted as a poem so I made it into one. Poetry is not this special prize sitting on a high shelf for only the elite. Poetry is in everyone. I did not mean to rant haha
I understand that feeling @@TheBoredPhysicist I have Aspergers so I don't understand subtlety, human emotions, unspoken cues, all these things. Some of us are just built differently than others and that's okay and valid. Try not to worry yourself too much, it'll happen, just give it time
I'm so sorry you feel this way. For me, his readings are pure ecstacy. He went deaf at the age of 4 and taught himself to read and speak English through poetry, as a teen. He never fails to blow my mind with his passion and generosity as a poet. And his humanity as a human being.
but not enough. -John
I am doing a project on this poem in my literature class, and I have also been listening to a lot of old Dear Hank & John podcast episodes. When I picked this short poem, I thought, "I wonder if John has heard of this poem." I was right, haha!
those three words.
Having an author read their own work is always fascinating to listen to. I love how he half chants, half sings the poem. It adds a meaning to it that is lost when the poem is read inside your head.
the rhythm comes through.....
« We opposed them but not enough »
that’s haunting
One of my new favorites. “Forgive us,” gave me chills. Thank you so much for sharing.
The singing was lovely. I appreciated that.
"Forgive us" feels like a tattoo I deserve.
This hit really hard.
It’s amazing how much power can be contained in parenthesis at the end of one line.
That was an incredible poem.
One of my very favorites! -Paige
“We opposed them but not enough.”
Hugs to everyone today.
In a way, this poem reminds me of the climate crisis today. We are able to live happily, ignoring the hell we are building for ourselves within our country of money. It left me speechless.
Although his reading is a bit odd to me, it is surprisingly appealing.
it was weird but when the punchline hits you realize it was perfect. The resolution of the poem really hits like a jackhammer. I liked this a lot.
It sounds so lovely. Like a chazzan.
It reminds me of the Count from Sesame Street. Nostalgic in a way.
Kaminsky is mostly deaf but he did a great job
This poem takes on fresh meaning today in light of the war in Ukraine. Forgive us, indeed.
This was wonderful. His chant-like reading gave the poem such depth that a regular read-through couldn't achieve. It almost sounded like a Rabbi's impassioned sermon to me. This poem really spoke to me.
You're so right, he does sound like a rabbi.
This poem hitting me in a different way now, more than ever.
This channel is making me actually like poetry. Hearing it is a lot more powerful than reading it.
This poem was just recontexualised by the threat of US-Iran war.
I almost burst into tears in the last line..
We literally studied this at college today what a coincidence
What are u majoring in?
YAMANs I’m from the UK so when I say college I mean school from 16-18 but when I go to university I’ll be applying for a BA in English
Here we are in 2022. ❤️
I got chills from that one. Wow.
I was just introduced to this poet and his work...this moves me beyond explanation.
This poem is powerfull
and the delivery wonderfully done...
This video is a treasure to be enjoy--
Kaminsky is probably the best poet alive today
My literary crush for years now. I'm so happy.
Literal chills. The poem is so beautiful and the way he reads it makes it so much more!! Thank you so much for the work that you do!
I love this channel! I am dyslexic, poetry is one of my favorite forms of writing and one of the hardest for me to read. This helps so much and makes me so happy. Thank you!!
How powerful is that "forgive us" - it just takes the entire poem through the roof.
I cried in my living room. Thank you.
Might be one of my favourites so far, that almost singing quality to the reading made SUCH a difference.
I love how this was paced, and the pauses were so nicely placed
It is an honour to have heard this read by him. It is a poem that never fails to have an impact, no matter how many times I read it.
This is one of my favorite poems so far of this series, and definitely my favorite reading. It's the first that sounded different out loud than it did in my head; Ilya's voice added so much.
Revisiting in the wake of the US military strike amplified my reaction to this poem.
While I thoroughly enjoy all the poems from this channel, this one, truly, made my jaw drop. I wasn't watching the video, just listening as I was putting away dishes, and while I was slightly confused at the start(was this some accent I hadn't heard) I heard the words "deaf republic" and it clicked. I pushed down the urge to pinch my phone from my pocket and watch, and instead just listened.
The way Ilya read this, with his cadence and kind of chanting, gave me goosebumps, the (forgive us), the way he transformed the word money.
Absolutely stunning, I had to relisten and watch!
Please have him back
Wow this one is powerful. And the narrator's reading only makes it that much stronger.
I relistened to this poem today. Every time, once and again, (forgive us) makes me cry.
wow his reading was so surprising but loved it! especially how the volume suddenly drops, and the words really hit you even more. loved the poem (as always :))
I keep coming back to this poem. I dont know quite why I love it so.
I’ve had the great honor of attending a reading by Illya. Truly an amazing experience. And this collection of poems is life changing.
At the beginning, I was curious which country, which war the author was referring to. I figured out that the poem was about “us” just in time for that brutal parenthetical, (forgive us) - took my breath away.
What a wonderful poem. The ending is a punch in the stomach. I think it works especially well the way it was read.
(forgive us)
oof. I felt that in my future gut.
Imagine he reading your favourite books !
What a brilliant reading! The sing-song quality of the delivery (which isn't necessarily apparent in the text itself) brings another layer of depth and irony to the poem.
I am so incredibly moved by this. Thank you, Ilya.
What an incredible experience it was to hear these lines!
This poem and the wonderful reading has really stuck with me. Thank you!
Shiiiiiiit. Really good
Really enjoyed this poem and the way it was read. I really felt this poem.
You certainly touched me with that one.
This is so beautiful and powerful!!!
Omg I loved this one. I particularly loved the way he read it.
This gave me goosebumps 👏🏼
Wonderfully unique reading.
Powerful!
I... oh ...wow It is so powerful, I need all this poems in one book call ours poetica too so yeah
Very lovely reading
His reading of it sounded almost like a song to me, and I thought it was a beautiful poem.
Love this one.
Wow!
wow. just... wow.
we (forgive us)
lived happily during the war.
Ouch
The irony of a Wells Fargo commercial playing before this reading is... well. Tragically ironic.
Forgive me for not listening before this.
great accent
Dona nobis pacem 🌻
The author actually went deaf at age 4, which I think gives an interesting background to the poem
www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/ilya-kaminsky
these days
I came to this channel in hopes that poetry could be brought to my level and made accessible to me, as it has always eluded me before. Turns out, it's still lost on me. I just don't get it. I really don't. The comments here are filled with people screaming how luxurious the words are and how they have shook them to the core. All I can do is stand back and feel like I'm watching people in an art gallery. People aimlessly staring at a white canvas with a single strip of black and reflecting on the complexity and boldness of the artistic vision. People who seemingly look deeply to find meaning in an object that by definition has no meaning. People who do so because they feel like if they don't, they aren't cultured enough. Well, consider me uncultured. I'm the person standing there wondering why anyone would pay so much for a single swipe of paint.
I have links for your art problem:
This ruclips.net/video/2LNiJK3rK9s/видео.html
And this ruclips.net/video/phYyRNrhZwc/видео.html
And ruclips.net/video/67EKAIY43kg/видео.html
They really helped me because I felt the same.
As for the problem with poems... give it time. One day a poem will come and grab your heart and shake it up. You will look at other poems in a new light once you've found that poem. The best way to find that poem is to continue to expose yourself to poetry.
I also find myself in dissonance with the comments more often than not, don't worry, people differ and that's a good thing. If we were all the same, life would be boring.
You say you don't understand art and poetry while your own comment is so beautifully written and flows well! Perhaps you yourself are an artist, a poet who just needs someone to point it out. One of my newest poems is just that, a message to my friend he interpreted as a poem so I made it into one. Poetry is not this special prize sitting on a high shelf for only the elite. Poetry is in everyone. I did not mean to rant haha
@@AspienPadda I feel like a psychopath trying to understand empathy.
I understand that feeling @@TheBoredPhysicist I have Aspergers so I don't understand subtlety, human emotions, unspoken cues, all these things. Some of us are just built differently than others and that's okay and valid. Try not to worry yourself too much, it'll happen, just give it time
Coreen Benadie Thanks for your words =)
No problem @@TheBoredPhysicist I hope it helps
God, the way he read that was insufferable I couldn't finish it
It's 1 minute long my dude. It's a really good poem. Try again.
I'm so sorry you feel this way. For me, his readings are pure ecstacy. He went deaf at the age of 4 and taught himself to read and speak English through poetry, as a teen. He never fails to blow my mind with his passion and generosity as a poet. And his humanity as a human being.
This needed to be experienced this way with the author reading it. I felt it in my bones. Thank goodness for this channel for these experiences.