WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.780 align:middle line:90%


00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:05.640 align:middle line:84%
So, again, this is my
last poem for the evening.

00:00:05.640 --> 00:00:09.930 align:middle line:90%


00:00:09.930 --> 00:00:13.560 align:middle line:84%
I know we always think it's
going to be our last poem.

00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:14.740 align:middle line:90%
You just never know.

00:00:14.740 --> 00:00:17.650 align:middle line:90%


00:00:17.650 --> 00:00:19.200 align:middle line:90%
Really, you never know.

00:00:19.200 --> 00:00:21.030 align:middle line:90%
We don't really know.

00:00:21.030 --> 00:00:24.210 align:middle line:84%
So it's important to treasure
every little increment

00:00:24.210 --> 00:00:27.330 align:middle line:84%
like right now in this moment
we're all here together.

00:00:27.330 --> 00:00:32.310 align:middle line:84%
And it is like Natalie
said of familia.

00:00:32.310 --> 00:00:36.060 align:middle line:84%
And I know I was so happy to
see Natalie and her generation

00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:39.090 align:middle line:84%
come up because we were always
looking for those, what's

00:00:39.090 --> 00:00:41.100 align:middle line:90%
going to happen?

00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:42.870 align:middle line:84%
Is this going to
be the end of it?

00:00:42.870 --> 00:00:45.640 align:middle line:90%


00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:47.460 align:middle line:90%
And then here they come.

00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:49.530 align:middle line:90%
You say, yes.

00:00:49.530 --> 00:00:51.280 align:middle line:90%
Or here come the grandchildren.

00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:54.450 align:middle line:84%
I have some of my beautiful
grandchildren here

00:00:54.450 --> 00:00:57.810 align:middle line:90%
and Rita's daughters here.

00:00:57.810 --> 00:01:00.150 align:middle line:84%
And we're all children
and grandchildren

00:01:00.150 --> 00:01:04.379 align:middle line:90%
of those who love us.

00:01:04.379 --> 00:01:06.690 align:middle line:84%
But it's going on,
it's continuing.

00:01:06.690 --> 00:01:09.480 align:middle line:84%
And we can see it and we can
hear it all over the country,

00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:16.150 align:middle line:84%
and in the poetry and in the
voices of these ones coming up.

00:01:16.150 --> 00:01:19.740 align:middle line:84%
So thank you, mvto,
for the family

00:01:19.740 --> 00:01:23.580 align:middle line:84%
and for friendship and
for love along the way,

00:01:23.580 --> 00:01:26.923 align:middle line:84%
for poetry, the
spirit of poetry.

00:01:26.923 --> 00:01:28.965 align:middle line:84%
And the center of the
world is the kitchen table.

00:01:28.965 --> 00:01:32.070 align:middle line:90%


00:01:32.070 --> 00:01:34.380 align:middle line:84%
The world begins
at a kitchen table.

00:01:34.380 --> 00:01:37.920 align:middle line:84%
No matter what, we
must eat to live.

00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:41.670 align:middle line:84%
The gifts of Earth are brought
and prepared, set on the table.

00:01:41.670 --> 00:01:46.050 align:middle line:84%
So it has been since
creation, and it will go on.

00:01:46.050 --> 00:01:49.260 align:middle line:84%
We chase chickens or
dogs away from it.

00:01:49.260 --> 00:01:51.840 align:middle line:90%
Babies teeth at this corners.

00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.360 align:middle line:84%
They scrape their
knees under it.

00:01:54.360 --> 00:01:57.090 align:middle line:84%
It is here that children
are given instructions

00:01:57.090 --> 00:01:59.200 align:middle line:90%
on what it means to be human.

00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:03.330 align:middle line:84%
We make men at
it, we make women.

00:02:03.330 --> 00:02:07.320 align:middle line:84%
At this table we gossip,
recall enemies and the ghosts

00:02:07.320 --> 00:02:08.820 align:middle line:90%
of lovers.

00:02:08.820 --> 00:02:12.390 align:middle line:84%
Our dreams drink coffee with
us as they put their arms

00:02:12.390 --> 00:02:14.130 align:middle line:90%
around our children.

00:02:14.130 --> 00:02:18.630 align:middle line:84%
They laugh with us and at
our poor falling down selves,

00:02:18.630 --> 00:02:22.140 align:middle line:84%
as we put ourselves
back together once again

00:02:22.140 --> 00:02:24.310 align:middle line:90%
at the table.

00:02:24.310 --> 00:02:28.740 align:middle line:84%
This table has been
a house in the rain,

00:02:28.740 --> 00:02:31.380 align:middle line:90%
an umbrella in the sun.

00:02:31.380 --> 00:02:36.450 align:middle line:84%
Wars have begun and
ended at this table.

00:02:36.450 --> 00:02:40.440 align:middle line:84%
It is a place to hide
in the shadow of terror.

00:02:40.440 --> 00:02:45.480 align:middle line:84%
A place to celebrate
the terrible victory.

00:02:45.480 --> 00:02:48.300 align:middle line:84%
We have given birth
on this table,

00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:52.350 align:middle line:84%
and have prepared our
parents for burial here.

00:02:52.350 --> 00:02:56.190 align:middle line:84%
At this table, we sing
with joy, with sorrow.

00:02:56.190 --> 00:02:58.830 align:middle line:84%
We pray of suffering
and remorse.

00:02:58.830 --> 00:03:02.010 align:middle line:90%


00:03:02.010 --> 00:03:03.930 align:middle line:90%
We give thanks.

00:03:03.930 --> 00:03:07.440 align:middle line:84%
Perhaps the world will
end at the kitchen table

00:03:07.440 --> 00:03:10.560 align:middle line:84%
while we are laughing
and crying, eating

00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:15.630 align:middle line:90%
of the last sweet bite.

00:03:15.630 --> 00:03:17.390 align:middle line:90%
Thank you.