WEBVTT

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I've lately taken very much to
heart a line from Derek Walcott.

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The line is, how can I say I saw
what occurred and said nothing?

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And what I realize is that
it is the purpose of a poet

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to say something.

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To hear what you listen,
to see what you look at,

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and to report, to witness.

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But I'd like to start with
a couple of new poems.

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The first is called
"Jasper Texas, 1998."

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Does that ring a
bell for anyone?

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Now let me say I read this
poem to a very good friend,

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poet and white.

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And he was disturbed
by the poem.

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There was a line in the
poem that bothered him.

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And I asked him, why
does it bother you?

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Why when you heard that
line did you become white?

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And he said, well,
that bothered me too.

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Which I thought
was a good reply.

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You may be able to
recognize the line.

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This is speaking in
the voice of Mr Byrd.

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Jasper, Texas, 1998.

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I am a man's head
hunched in the road.

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I was chosen to speak by
the members of my body.

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The arm as it pulled
away pointed toward me.

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The hand opened
once and was gone.

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Why, and why, and why should
I call a white man brother?

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Who is the human in this place?

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The thing that is
dragged or the dragger?

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What does my daughter say?

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The sun is a blister overhead.

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If I were alive, I
could not bear it.

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The townsfolk sing,
we shall overcome,

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while hope drains
slowly from my mouth

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into the dust which
covers us all.

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I am done with this dirt.

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I am done.

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Thank you.

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[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE]

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I don't mind if you don't clap.