Poetry Slam by the publishing cabin

POETRY SLAM

the publishing cabin

POETRY SLAM

POETRY SLAM April 2013 Texts: UWC RCN students (2012/2013) Design: Ana Flecha Marco Made in Flekke

INTRO (Onyx Bengston) 7

JANUARY 16TH (Onyx Bengston) 9

RCN SCHIZOFRENIA –AN ODE TO RCN’S DIVERSITY (Olve Drageset) 15

PAPA,TELL ME ABOUT HONOUR (Hà Vi Châu) 19

I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE DISCUSSING ABOUT OTHERS (Katrin Meschin) 23

TO APPRECIATE (Tamim Al Kadasi) 29

DOBBY

(Leonardo Olivetti) 35

FLEKKE POETRY (Marta Hanyzkiewicz) 39

INTRO ONYX BENGSTON

According to Wikipedia: A poetry slam is a competition at which poets read or recite original work. However any poet, writer, reader, listener can tell you it is much more than a competition or a recital. A poetry slam is an event where minds from anywhere and everywhere are put on the same stage and offer a bit of themselves for the world. It may be something funny or something intensively deep, perhaps it is witty or impulsive, maybe it has dramatic gestures or a song-like rhythm; it is possible it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rhyme at all, but whatever it is, it is them. According to a poet: A poetry slam is an event at which writers are set free.

JANUARY 16th ONYX BENGSTON

A funny thing happens when there isn’t that voice. You know, the one constantly reminding you who to be. The one letting you know that your favourite colour is purple. The one saying you like organization and routine and that other people respect those qualities. The one letting you know that you don’t like cake. And that spicy food makes you happy. That silly voice always there to let you know exactly who you are. Happy to let you know that you are terrible with kids and that you think cats are “too independent for your taste”. 9

Glad to help you recall that you hate being in photos because you have a creepy smile and you are twenty kilos overweight. The voice reminding you that your hands are awkwardly stubby and your nose is crooked. The voice telling you that you don’t want, nor like, commitment. That you want to be wealthy and successful. That you want to be reliable to others and never need to rely on them. That you are okay with being alone. The voice that is everyone around you, who “knows” you even when you don’t. All those voices available to fix those “who am I” questions by recalling who you were. Keeping you as the person they remember, keeping you consistent. That voice stagnating your growth. It’s funny what happens when that voice isn’t there. When you find yourself in a setting where no one “knows” you, or “knew” you. Where no one can recall past declarations of your resentment towards wasabi. Where no one will let you know that you get straight A’s and cover your lab partner’s ass every time. Where no one reminds you that you can’t cry because that’s not strong, Because you have to be strong. 10

Where no one is hardened to turn a blind eye because “That girl gets through everything, she doesn’t need a helping hand, she’ll pull through anyways”. When you land there, and some day you will, discovery begins. Suddenly you can recognize that maybe you like Red. Perhaps routines and schedules are too restrictive, Maybe you would rather live spontaneously seeking out those blissful moments buried in the relentless timetable of life. Maybe you think cats are soft, and that purring is soothing. And it might even be possible that you want kids someday, or not, but it’s up in the air. Maybe you don’t dislike all cake and sometimes find all you really want is to stare out a car window for hours without talking to anyone. Maybe you like the idea of hiking to a lookout and staring at the stars. Maybe you would like even more to have someone there with you to stand behind you and wrap you in their arms, kiss your cheek and share the silence. You won’t have to explain that your hands are “just like that” 11

and that you broke your nose when you were three walking into an automatic door the wrong direction. It’ll be okay that you don’t weigh 57 kilos, because you’re working on it. You can recognize that you are wrong sometimes. That you are wrong sometimes. That you are wrong a lot. You can admit to yourself that you are not a liar but a manipulator. A manipulator of the ones you want to like you, a manipulator of the ones you want to love you and more so a manipulator of yourself. It’s suddenly clear that the people who see you properly are the ones you don’t like or bother with, because you don’t care enough to act for them. And usually those are the ones who try to be your friend while the others grow distasteful of your façade. You will realize that you need to stop. That you need to let yourself grow, because the only voice still reminding you that you hate kids, that you don’t deserve the opportunity to break another person’s heart, that you like order in everything, is you. 12

RCN SCHIZOFRENIA –AN ODE TO RCN’S DIVERSITY OLVE DRAGESET

Do you know me?

You have lived here for one or two years now, but do you really know me? Have you ever thought about that maybe I am a paradox, yet I’m not. That I’m an incarnation of youth apathy, and I care a lot. That I’m the main character of nothing, but I know the plot of MY story will go down in history. Because people, And for for the

I, I am building bridges between nations and cultures, for peace! people to jump off of them, or leave US to never go home again.

Do you know who I am? 15

listening tentatively to Daniels talks of idealism, and how we’re on a MISSION, while at the same time I’m wondering where I’m gonna sell that camera I stole last night. Do you know me then, do you know who I am? My destiny is to study in NYU Abu Dhabi, In the capital of oil and luxury. Imagine me there, promoting the mission statement value of «sustainability», surfing on my iPad, or my MacBook, or my iPhone, mixing drinks with Baccardi and the red and yellow saft I learned to love here, at RCN. Now who am I, and am I worth more or LESS to the world than a common housefly. WHAT? Are you telling me I’m a leach at best, sucking blood from the earth of so called «developping» countries that are in fact eroding away to DIRT and sand, under MY HAND? NO, I’m not a psychopath, because I count psycological manipulation as a form of social behaviour. I’m NOT invoking admiration or even pity in people so I can fuck with their head and get in their bed: So much for «love thy neighbour», 16

well really I’m doing them a favour, and treating them as an END –not as a means to get there, when I can’t even be self critical enough to ask «get where?» Now *WHO AM I* to mess with them? NO, I’m none of that, all here said is false. I was picked by hand by the national committee because I am a gem, And here I stand, the shining product of UWC education. I am the sum of the 200 brightest minds of our generation.

PAPA,TELL ME ABOUT HONOUR HÀ VI CHÂU

Papa, tell me about honour… Tell me the fairy tale of honour, The one grandpa told you The one great-grandpa told grandpa Papa, tell me about that thing called honour… What does honour look like, Papa? How colourful is it? Is it as colourful as my new year dresses… Or as colourful as the rainbow… What does honour taste like, Papa? How yummy is it? Is it like chocolate ice-cream… Or is it like mummy’s noodles… What does honour feel like, Papa? Is it as fluffy as our puppy Or as warm as my big pillow… 19

Papa, tell me about honour. Why is it so important, Papa? Is it someone’s food? Is it someone’s water? Is is someone’s home? Or is it someone’s favourite Teddy Bear ? Papa, tell me. What does honour look like? What does honor taste like? What does honour feel like? Is it yummy? Papa?

I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE DISCUSSING ABOUT OTHERS KATRIN MESCHIN

I have seen people discussing about others, ranking them, judging them: who is in top 10 and who is not. who is the hottest, and who said what. I would like to be with... but did they even know who were they talking about? What is the purpose of being you if no-one even minds to look beyond the way you look â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not even you yourself? What is the purpose of even mentioning their name if all you know is the shield but not what is inside? You may pick up a stone while walking by the fjords just because you liked it or buy a new t-shirt or a phone. You may possess them, carry them with you, 23

drag them along without asking just because you want them, but we are different. Every single one of you is different from that as you have feelings, emotions, opinions, stories, passions, fears, memories and thoughts inside you that create who you are. Why don’t we care? Just looking at W4 pictures doesn’t tell you if the person is nice or mean The sweater they wear doesn’t tell you if their life is as it seems to be. Their eyes don’t say if they really are friendly or not, even if you haven’t seen more beautiful eyes until now. Their body weight doesn’t tell you if they have gone through challenges you wouldn’t even see in your deepest nightmare Their haircut doesn’t tell about what they care. Their lovely smile doesn’t tell you stories they can share Their new bag doesn’t reveal their biggest fear. Their style that you don’t like doesn’t show the talent they might have. Their way of speaking you might hate doesn’t tell you the ideas they have. 24

We leave so much information untouched. How can you love or hate someone without even knowing who they are? Despite what they are from outside they might be rotten inside or on the contrary, might hide a fortune worth thousand times more than what they show. We are so often satisfied with the superficial essence that creates what we think of someone We don’t dare to find out who is it actually, that we are so found of. Are we lazy, shy or are we cowards? Afraid to get disappointed. Or is it just that we don’t care, don’t mind to waste our time, see no difference. After 50 years you might see me and say that you know me or at least once knew but in the end all you can tell about me is that we spent months together in the same school or that I used to wear red coat or you sometimes saw me in kantina After 50 years someone asks about your roommates and all you can say is their country and whether or not you liked the sound of their alarm in the morning 25

Ask yourself how many people you actually know and how many know you. Can you spend more time on describing the personality they have than describing their appearance that is actually all you know. You never find out everything about everyone but accept what is unknown and don’t simplify them into a small meaningless sentence. she’s nice. he’s hot Back home people knew you so you didn’t have to define yourself all over again. Now if someone asks, you don’t even know what to say. What am I really? So you start to listen what others can tell about you “You spend all your time in the library because I have seen you there twice” –now this is what you are. “You are in student shop” –now this is what you are. “You spend time in TSK. You have a waffle maker. In kantina you always sit in a round table. You are always running somewhere.” Superficial. 26

–This is not you, its just a role you’ve given. Don’t they know anything else? If all we care is how we see others, then what is the point of having anything inside? What is the purpose of being you if no-one even minds to look beyond the way you look –not even you yourself?

TO APPRECIATE TAMIM AL KADASI

Time passes by, and we just keep on forgetting; forgetting simple essential stuff; to appreciate, to appreciate is a key to a happy life I was once told. To appreciate being able to walk, talk, think, feel and rest, and so on with the too many verbs that can fit what we can do every day that some people canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t imagine they exist. To enjoy the blue sky, the green trees and the yellow sun, the breeze after a morning run, and learn what should and shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be done for a life full of happiness, full of fun. To enjoy the smell of the plants after the rain, and the pain of the sunbeam coming into your eyes 29

when you open your windowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curtain, to enjoy warmth of a fireplace in a stormy night, the sound of thunder and the lighting light. To enjoy the taste of the same meal you eat everyday but you eat it like it is the first time... yeah, this is the thing; to do everything like it is the first time you do it. To go to bed wondering how it is like to wake up, to go up an escalator as if you have never known that feeling of being pushed when you get off, to read a book like you have never seen words before; to wonder how these random shapes and figures, which are called letters, can make sense. To write a poem with no suspense, hence, everything you write about has a feeling of being new and intense, as if they were seen by fresh eyes from a different seat every time. To appreciate is a key to a happy life I was once told, to appreciate having a life no one else has, not to complain and whine, about what went wrong and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go fine, wake up, good morning donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be blind, for 30

happiness in life there is no deadline, and life is nothing but a short timeline, it is time for glory, to raise up, it is time to shine. It is time to realize that nothing in this world can feed our endless desires, and know that anything can do feed them. At least now I know when I see you again it would be like the first time I meet you. I would have the memory of you like a nice dream I tried to forget, but it was so amazing that I prefer to keep. When I see you again, you will be a nurse and I will be an injured soldier coming back from an everlasting war between men and women, between cats and dogs, between Tom and Jerry, between Harry Potter and Voldemort, between Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, between Batman and The Joker, between Bart Simpson and Principle Skinner, between Israel and Palestine, between Evil and Good and between me and you in a world that indwells inside of me. It is World War 6680 today, since there is a World War every day. When I see you again, you will be oil and I will be water, that never can mix. 31

When I see you again, you will be a random word and I will be just a letter. When I see you again I will be the ocean and you will be a drop of water. When I see you again I will be Lionel Messi and you will be Christiano Ronaldo, you will be Pepsi and I will be Coke, you will be East and I will be West, you will be Reason and I will be Emotion and you will be me and I will be you. When I see you again, you will be a color, a list, a song, a Sunday, a June, a rose, a bird, because I know when I see you again I will not only see you, but as well see myself in you. I just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see you again.

DOBBY LEONARDO OLIVETTI

One day, I met an elf, And, inquisitive, I approached him. “Hey, what’s your name? What’s your job?” “My name is Dobby, The elf who cannot have hobbies; I’m a servant, in my life, And serving my master is the only purpose, in my life” “Well, now listen to me: Who doesn’t let you live free?” 35

“Was once the wicked, Who in great ease lived. Then, I saved the wicked man. Near him I come, And free I become. But then, when my life, Wasn’t anymore just a sacrifice, But started to be a real life, Just me, only me only, in my life, Again, my freedom was taken away, Every my ambition again decayed.” “Well, what happened to you? Was the journey unclear for you?” Did you get lost? Did you encounter any ghost?” “Well, indeed, it was very clear What I wanted for the next year.

But my nature I didn’t consider! You can’t do whatever you want either! So, just in a moment, I had to close the dreamlike door And returning to do, what nature made me for: My name is Dobby, The elf who cannot have hobbies.”

FLEKKE POETRY MARTA HANYZKIEWICZ

Time flies faster than the bird. “Doing what others won’t, you will achieve what others don’t.” -Anonymous “Do or do not, there is no try.” -Yoda, Star Wars Happiness is a choice. “The only way to have a friend, is to be one.” -Ralph Emerson “It is more shameful to distrust one’s friends, than to be deceived by them.” -Duc de la Rochefoucauld 39

“It is better to be alone, than in bad company.” -George Washington “Success only follows those who keep going.” - Me just now When opportunity appears, jump at it if all you have to do is register, you might as well try to get in, and if you do get in you can still decide whether you want to go or not. There is great strength gained by knowing that you can, and you’ll never know unless you do. Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful... that’s what matters to me. Love matters for me. Family matters for me. Friends matter for me. Education matters for me. Passion matters for me. To do things which passionate me. To do things with love. To love and be loved. 40

To enjoy the beauty of life. To explore what matters in life is to live in that way that today would be the last day in my life. To dream that dreams come true. Time is limited not only in Flekke. Time is limited on Earth. Being on top of the mountain doesn’t mean to want to reach the top, but enjoying the climbing on the top of the mountain. To be brave to follow your heart, to follow your intuition, to listen to your heart. Have a courage to follow your heart. And again live in the way like today would be the last day in your life. Everyday is special despite difficulties despite suffering despite not being able to see. Everyday is special open your eyes, open your heart. One day you’re happy one day you’re sad. Don’t be sad, it makes me sad. 41

There is great strength gained by knowing that you can, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never know unless you do. Keep looking. If you live the day as it will be your last day If the day will be the last day in my life what I will do I know that I will need to change. Keep your smile on. Always wear sunscreen. In Flekke everyday was and is special and everyday will stay special, because from everyday I have memory. I have memories, all these memories will stay in my heart. This place is special because of people. People who tame with friedship. People who became friends. Friends who made my day and days. People who made me happy. Even if it was challenging when I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t open the book and read. I was jealous sometimes that you can read you can just open the book and read. I want it like that. You made me smile. You made me dance. Forever. 42

All these beautiful memories from Flekke will stay. There were days when I felt like an African girl, because of dancing in an African gathering. There was a day, when I felt like in Hollywood when Alonso made a video. There was a day when I saw the rainbow during kayaking (I have a writing about colour, about rainbow). There was a day when I danced in a show, there was a day when I was acting in theatre production, there was a day when I took part in Nordic Peace Conference, there was a day when I enjoyed being in library with my friends, there was a day when in kantina I couldn’t see clearly who was there, but then this person taught me to recognize by clothing. This made me smile. I love smiling. I had never smiled a lot before. It’s here and now. I forgot about the past when I didn’t have friends. 43

I am worrying about the future, because I will keep all these memories in my heart. All these memories will fly like a butterfly. All these memories from life changing experience in Flekke made me not feel disabled. Even if I saw it a little bit in kantina and I wanted to say the name of this person, I was afraid that I will say it in a wrong way that it is not her name. It is not his name. There are no wrong answers, I tried and I have a desire to try it and learn from mistakes. I have learnt from you. Everyday. Merci, gracias, xie-xie. Te quiero. Flekke always will be a special place for me, because of you. You my friends.

the publishing cabin

[international books made in flekke]