WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.950 align:middle line:90%
[APPLAUSE]

00:00:03.950 --> 00:00:04.980 align:middle line:90%
Thank you so much.

00:00:04.980 --> 00:00:07.647 align:middle line:84%
That was a stunning
introduction.

00:00:07.647 --> 00:00:08.480 align:middle line:90%
It was so beautiful.

00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:12.060 align:middle line:84%
It's just so lovely to be read
that way and to be understood.

00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:15.320 align:middle line:84%
And I would get weepy, but I'm
Jamaican and we don't do that.

00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:18.430 align:middle line:90%
[LAUGHTER]

00:00:18.430 --> 00:00:20.780 align:middle line:84%
So I have a cold or I'm
getting over a cold,

00:00:20.780 --> 00:00:21.860 align:middle line:90%
and then I'm traveling.

00:00:21.860 --> 00:00:23.940 align:middle line:84%
So it's like my body
chose the perfect time.

00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:26.513 align:middle line:84%
It's like, you know what,
let's just do this now.

00:00:26.513 --> 00:00:28.680 align:middle line:84%
And apparently, it's like
allergy season everywhere.

00:00:28.680 --> 00:00:31.697 align:middle line:84%
So this is happening, it's going
to be-- there's a lot of water,

00:00:31.697 --> 00:00:32.780 align:middle line:90%
there'll be some coughing.

00:00:32.780 --> 00:00:33.863 align:middle line:90%
It's just going to happen.

00:00:33.863 --> 00:00:36.917 align:middle line:90%


00:00:36.917 --> 00:00:38.250 align:middle line:90%
Thank you so much for having me.

00:00:38.250 --> 00:00:40.430 align:middle line:84%
I'm so-- I'm looking
at this audience,

00:00:40.430 --> 00:00:42.530 align:middle line:84%
and I'm just so
excited and moved

00:00:42.530 --> 00:00:46.700 align:middle line:84%
that there are so many people
who want to hear poetry.

00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:49.125 align:middle line:84%
And it's so great
to have a book.

00:00:49.125 --> 00:00:51.500 align:middle line:84%
And one of the things I didn't
expect about having a book

00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:53.420 align:middle line:84%
is that I would get
to leave New York,

00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:56.420 align:middle line:84%
and go places, and meet
people who've read the book,

00:00:56.420 --> 00:00:59.930 align:middle line:84%
and talk about it, and read
poetry, and share that.

00:00:59.930 --> 00:01:02.910 align:middle line:84%
So I'm honored and so
privileged to be here.

00:01:02.910 --> 00:01:05.900 align:middle line:90%
Thank you so much.

00:01:05.900 --> 00:01:07.970 align:middle line:84%
And thank you so much for
all the organizing that

00:01:07.970 --> 00:01:09.440 align:middle line:90%
went into this as well.

00:01:09.440 --> 00:01:12.020 align:middle line:84%
Hannah, you are--
as an administrator,

00:01:12.020 --> 00:01:13.670 align:middle line:90%
I just feel close to you.

00:01:13.670 --> 00:01:18.500 align:middle line:90%
[LAUGHTER]

00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:20.780 align:middle line:84%
So I'll read a few
poems from the book.

00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:22.640 align:middle line:84%
And then, I will
read a few new ones

00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:25.430 align:middle line:84%
as well because I want to share
something new with you guys.

00:01:25.430 --> 00:01:27.410 align:middle line:90%
But I'll start with the book.

00:01:27.410 --> 00:01:30.050 align:middle line:90%
"Tender."

00:01:30.050 --> 00:01:32.300 align:middle line:90%
Dear patriot.

00:01:32.300 --> 00:01:34.850 align:middle line:90%
Dear catastrophe.

00:01:34.850 --> 00:01:38.450 align:middle line:84%
None of this means
what we thought it did.

00:01:38.450 --> 00:01:40.310 align:middle line:90%
Dear fragments.

00:01:40.310 --> 00:01:42.710 align:middle line:90%
Dear displacement.

00:01:42.710 --> 00:01:45.840 align:middle line:90%
Dear broken skin.

00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:48.980 align:middle line:90%
I am in over my head.

00:01:48.980 --> 00:01:51.230 align:middle line:90%
Dear prisoner.

00:01:51.230 --> 00:01:54.440 align:middle line:90%
Dear, dear wounded.

00:01:54.440 --> 00:01:57.470 align:middle line:90%
You have earned our respect.

00:01:57.470 --> 00:02:01.370 align:middle line:90%
Dear glad hands, curbed dog.

00:02:01.370 --> 00:02:04.370 align:middle line:90%
Dear perfect object.

00:02:04.370 --> 00:02:07.280 align:middle line:90%
The same night awaits us.

00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:09.560 align:middle line:90%
Dear put upon.

00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:13.730 align:middle line:84%
The day folds over
and begins again.

00:02:13.730 --> 00:02:15.740 align:middle line:90%
Dear bad animal.

00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:18.440 align:middle line:90%
Dear caged thing.

00:02:18.440 --> 00:02:21.400 align:middle line:90%
There was something about you.

00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:22.000 align:middle line:90%