Poetry in maximum security prison: Phil Kaye at TEDxFoggyBottom

With his remarkable talent of storytelling and two captivating poems, Phil shares his journey and experience of creating poetry with inmates in maximum security prison.
Phil Kaye is a touring spoken word poet and co-director of Project VOICE. He has traveled all over the world performing his work and teaching hands-on workshops. He has appeared on NPR, performed at Lincoln Center, and is the two-time recipient of the National College Poetry Slam award for "Pushing the Art Forward", given for outstanding innovation in the art of performance poetry -- the only person to receive the award twice. Phil is a graduate of Brown University, where he was the former head coordinator of Space in Prisons for the Arts and Creative Expression (SPACE) and taught weekly poetry workshops in maximum-security prisons. His book, A Light Bulb Symphony, was released in 2011, and his work can be found regularly in CHAOS Magazine.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@daisiesandcoffee9977]

Even his Ted Talk presentation sounded like a spoken word poem. What a talent he is.

[@fiev]

Yes, he is very talented

[@assejanag2970]

true!!!

[@elizaiv]

I was thinking the same exact thing. If he wasn't announcing that the start or the end f the poem I wouldn't recognize it from his normal speech.

[@sarahp2052]

I thought the Same!!

[@davidmorin9053]

I think that has more to do with his spoken word performances sounding more like dialogue than a nuanced and performed piece. Don't get me wrong, I think he's very talented and bought his book. But it's more about his poems sounding like speech than his speech sounding like poems.

[@airalopez6806]

"We're seventeen men sharing poetry." this guy made a dead poet's society in prison

[@kaelyntai7433]

That's so true

[@jan-kr4eb]

TRUE !

[@TheWorldAccordingToV]

"I codirect with a wonderful friend and amazing poet Sarah Kay" awg love their friendship

[@caitlinmalia3544]

the last poem, "Repetition" is by far my favorite poem ever.

[@ashunderdash]

You should hear his poem "numbers man"

[@Diana-gt1rv]

I also like the last poem most. You can’t repeat certain words too often, if you really love a person it just comes out of your mouth or out of your feelings. I can also totally relate to artworks being made for your audience instead of making them for yourself. If I paint a picture, I paint it not for me, but with you in mind. Because I love you. 💕

[@arar3182]

In love with this talk as much as I love your gravity-defying hair

[@JoaquinGonzales900]

Damn now I wanna hear the prisoner's poems.

[@oliverjarosi]

+Gaskarath Reggans especially the one about a fart :D

[@ellabilge4982]

Oliver Jarosi IM DEAD😂😂

[@andrewmacias8238]

So I got out a year ago and I wrote several poem . Looking to see the audience that's out there and I thought I say I'm fixing to put out my poems on you tube

[@teagannam]

wow… I already adored his poem “separation”, but hearing it in the context of this talk was just incredible. The last line especially… damn near made me cry :_)

[@SidraShips101]

All of his works leave me mesmerized and hungry for more.

[@daffo595]

Everything I've heard from him so far is beautiful

[@emilysongs.]

There seems to be a renewed interest in the spoken poetry in recent times, and of course in the U.S., it is very interesting, It has the popularity of stand up comedy and depth of poetry together. I like it.

[@colinegarcia3932]

The first Ted Talk I had finished. I was moved and felt goose bumps. Thank you for the inspiration. I am into poetry and this is for me.

[@seanbeller7355]

omg.... if you go to Sarah Kay's Ted preformance... it's 18:28 minutes long... whereas Phil's is 18:29..

[@destinyheath6583]

Sean Beller they’re also best friends

[@chado3000]

They are like salt and pepper shakers. A complimentary set. I prefer Sarah shaker.

[@markthemixedpunk]

And he has a nice sounding voice

[@istaaraamjad3067]

The stories he tells are so so beautiful - every word is a word of poetry. Its amazing and inspiring, and fills you with love for what humans can create.

[@jesmens]

I love how this guy talks and delivers. It somehow inspires me to start writing slam poems :')

[@moggycat99]

meep thats why he does these talks. Go with the Phil Kaye flow

[@kishascape]

Blegh. Those are so lame and unoriginal and tryhard. Beat/Slam/Spoken, it's like Modern "Art" painting of the writing world.

[@oceanpoet1]

this is by far the best TED talk I have listened to. This is one very talented young man. So engaging and mesmerizing!!!! Bravo!

[@SpringHWhipple]

Nice job Phil! I got a little choked up at the end, I stood and applauded as well. Thank you!

[@eddiecorado1635]

This needs to be a mini-series or movie. This seems truly moving.

[@sezisonic]

His voice is so calming

[@moonbinisatongue]

*Surplus* Is My Favorite Poem. Especially the last line... *"and I began to build* *the only way I know how"*

[@aaronbee8232]

Great talk! Great hair!

[@spainbarcafootyfan]

Hahah ikr, he's always got his hair styled like he's an anime character :)

[@kathyellis1912]

Powerful. Thank you, Mr. Kaye.

[@aswathinair7060]

officially obsessed

[@hudaalsubehi5471]

such a beautiful and confident character you literary encouraged me to start writing God bless you boy

[@abenaoworae5294]

That last poem...wow!

[@asiamarie4]

absolutely amazing. quiet strength.

[@felixsichone7984]

The whole thing sounded like a poem , this guy is talented

[@MaryKatherine-x]

I love you Phil. Incredible, as always.

[@ILikeToTripOverAir]

I started crying at that ending poem oh my God I want the transcript

[@izzylamb2516]

adore his work, great to hear this talk!

[@markthemixedpunk]

Most of his poems I've heard are amazing

[@shannon_cf]

I love this so much, it was so incredibly inspirational. Thank you for doing what you do Phil Kaye.

[@SXHQQSSS]

SPEECHLESS!!! He talks Poetry!!! WOW!!!

[@kymberleemcintyre6339]

I love this! Phil Kaye is a special gift.

[@Sloppy1211]

I do believe his gifts are quite powerful 😊

[@meriemyounsi1297]

"Repetition " is my favourite poem so far ;waiting for the best ⏳⏳,cuz yeah Phil you can do it 👊

[@natashamwansa7180]

Omg this made me tear up soooo beautiful especially the last poem

[@elizaiv]

Damn, that was good! Thank you for the story, Phil, you are a master of words. Now I want to learn more about spoken word poetry, curious if that would work in other languages. Great talk (and I'm surprised how few views it has, it definitely deserves much more)!

[@georgeoakley9297]

Inspiring - I can really relate. Stay strong & keep going.

[@lubabakiswani6656]

this was one beautiful talk.. it was such a mind blowing rollercoaster

[@strawberriez0]

Amazing as usual ... I loved your TedTalk! Keep up the great work Phil! :)

[@andrewsokulski8922]

I still remember the day when I was ushering as you and Sarah came to perform at The Sheen Center in NYC! GREAT JOB MAN!!

[@Maddy-xk9tq]

This made me cry

[@aniskhan2005]

Wonderfully narrated, recited and the mix - oh, what a fix! (thanks for your talent and sharing!)

[@gemmaskate]

Chills! Beautiful!

[@tsheringlhamo8807]

why does this speech make me weirdly emotional !!!

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

How does he know all this from memory? I know a 5 line poem by Nicholas Rowe from memory, called 'The Brave' but I can't compete with this!

[@zayan0013]

+Mike Fuller Practice. Remember one sentence at a time. Once you learn the sentence, learn the next. Once you know the entire thing, keep repeating it.

[@dyutilov]

I guess it's a little easier to memorise your own words rather than someone else's. Try it sometime. Write 10 lines, and you'll see you'll remember them more easily than the 5 lined poem. I'm in no way undermining Phil's wonderful talent though. Amazing storyteller.

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

I do know a small selection of Sonnets from memory but nothing much more! I think my favourite poem I know from memory is Sonnet 'To The River Lodon' by Thomas Warton. I had it read or recited for me on 'Poetry Please'. This is my little, although 'Very Small', claim to fame. I don't wish for any more or greater acclaim than just that!

[@okterlox0]

Yes you can. It only takes a little practice. Record it and then listen to it over and over while you are doing something else. It will embed itself into your soul.

[@unnatiu2557]

It was all just absolutely beautiful❤ Sarah & Phil can truly inspire anyone, at least very defintely me😍 I hope I write poems as beuatiful as these ones someday😘

[@supermodelzdancerie]

his Grandfather is so inspirational

[@LeviWarnos]

Listen to his poem 'Teeth' if you haven't.

[@mannymelgoza6665]

Levi Warnos that in my mind is his best poem

[@laurnaguiste3524]

Keep on doing what you are doing,God bless you and you inspire me :)

[@KristiC16]

The ending of this is perfect.

[@stellakyomugisha]

am so impressed of his draft along the take over the flow of stage ☺😑

[@blueberries7013]

Huhu I love his poems

[@arar3182]

I'm so curious about those prisoners and how they ended up there

[@sully70]

are you serious? you gotta be kidding right? how do you think they got there? they broke the fucken law!!!!!

[@chekubechukwuma4307]

+william o'sullivan I think she meant like the exact way and reason they got there. and who knows? maybe not all of them broke the law.

[@tejasjay]

Beautiful!

[@rheavelasquez9454]

I can't get over Repition

[@azul4904]

its like eminem, even when they’re not performing they sound like they are. his voice has poetry in it already.

[@lauradoonan]

This is amazing

[@Blessthemartyr132]

I met him once and he's super awesome:)

[@svgs14]

great ! so inspired..phil are you awesome

[@svgs14]

you are awesome

[@vuletshvhs4451]

Amazing!

[@dianepotteryoga]

Excellent. I love it at 4:30.

[@reginaibrahim3374]

Inspiring indeed

[@AsherWolfKevinPeace]

beautiful

[@megan-qs7zg]

such an underrated poem

[@angelonabalse4458]

The last poem make me cry.

[@SkeletonMoney]

Same

[@yeeeyik1497]

Amazing

[@noobpoetry8922]

His story could be a movie

[@srizualemgr]

That's deep.

[@tet8236]

thank you

[@coachhumanlife]

amazing amazing amazing see

[@keylock78]

i just saw this guys at the wordxword festival and didnt realize it was him omfg

[@GleeVampDiaries212]

I I I I I I love you

[@reneelove7970]

X) I I I I I l-love that poem.

[@philamerica7702]

GREAT TALK!

[@teagannam]

I love how he made to step away from the mic at the end of the first poem and then realized he wasn’t at a slam lol

[@liisl.8525]

The starting poem... :')

[@chubbeey]

I love you.

[@reese1194]

This is now called a Tim Talk

[@hectorcarrasco3394]

I am more into Poetry that Rhymes as you tell a Story, this just sounds like a Story.

[@theinciner5559]

he's so cute and talented

[@minyminions7064]

that was so deeeeee-e-e-e-e-e-p

[@pericochief]

I often question, what makes people volunteer? how do they make time? Why?

[@itsjay5180]

Repetition👏👏😊

[@lakshikamalik8377]

💓💓💓💓💓

[@saraswatishah1]

i love you ...

[@haronmunyao5177]

I love you too

[@user-bw8yn3zr1s]

why is he so good looking...XD, I liked the last poem.

[@Yandy_x]

Even the talk sounds like spoken word poetry😅

[@saraswatishah1]

yes , we have gravity... listen i can feel u.

[@traceur4God]

Can someone please explain the last line?

[@izzyhorne5222]

He's talking about "building" through poetry

[@TheArtemis07]

He has nothing on the Teleprompter. Impressive.

[@sirsoos3546]

4:16 - 4:20

[@Jordan-ms7zi]

where to get transcript

[@Jordan-ms7zi]

where can I get the transcript to this

[@firapuroki4571]

"some real talent the rarely came out of prison".... Why don't u help them? Stack it on a book, sell em, and let us buy it...

[@britneyroache9559]

Firapu Roki do you know how much legal action and money that would take?

[@okterlox0]

I think a way can be found to do it legally and successfully. It just needs to be spearheaded by someone with a burning passion for the project. It could even be put on KZbin.

[@keelyswanderings]

This isn't even a poem and I'm crying anyway haha

[@saraswatishah1]

u just brok me and i became strong...

[@Ohquesarah]

Dang I want to marry him :’(

[@haronmunyao5177]

Are you married now?

[@TheLpsAwesomeTV]

So q u i e t

[@chado3000]

You would not believe the wasted talent in prison. You will find all of the arts, some of the sciences, and of course a few butchers along the way. 😉

[@cggamingrehearsals7403]

This isn't poety. Storytelling would be a better word.

[@blueberries7013]

Huhu I love his poems

[@tiwistar]

This is amazing