The Greatest Poet You've Never Heard (Is 12 Yrs Old)

12-year-old Kioni "Popcorn" Marshall has been writing poetry since the age of five and performing at NYC venues since she was nine. In October, she was invited to perform at New York's storied poetry mecca, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
In this PRODIGIES exclusive, Kioni performs her original poem, "Forgotten", at THNKR's NYC studios.
Be sure to check out Kioni's full episode of PRODIGIES here: bit.ly/V6IUyJ
PRODIGIES is a bi-weekly series showcasing the youngest and brightest as they challenge themselves to reach new heights and the stories behind them.
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[@Teewim]

this is why I like KZbin, even the young get a chance. keep it up. "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." -Pablo Picasso

[@BriannaAbdullah]

Damn, this girl is very intellectual for a 12 year old. Very impressive and her poem is absolutely amazing.

[@nfahwi]

PLEASE watch her full-feature. She sits in her room and just writes.... she's amazing.

[@workhard1906]

she's so talented! at such a young age!

[@TaliaKalter]

This is beautiful. It is impossible to forget such words - she has given a voice to all those who are unheard!

[@CathAlexandra]

First step is to accept, embrace it, own it, make it your own...it will make you stronger. Be authentic...there is beauty and life on the other side...to move beyond it we must move through it. This is what her poem said to me. Loved it! We must always love ourselves and never let our circumstances define us.

[@salvation7141]

Im 20 years old and I wrote seven books already, four of them being while I was still in High school. Where's my prodigy video? lolzz

[@Aido6985]

This is what rap should have been. So beautiful.

[@Midget424]

made chills run down my spine!

[@gop453]

Wow, this is truly amazing.

[@copierwoman660]

Very intellectual! She would give established poets a high benchmark.

[@Spagettit]

Ummm WOW. This girl is a prodigy... Amazing. nothing less

[@velkro16]

That was very good. So deep and meaningful. I really understood what she wrote. I feel like I'm going through those sort of feelings now.

[@salman6896]

Wow. Just wow.

[@jon4miamiheat]

that is a beautiful poem

beautiful!

[@cassette_tape]

Now you see, people? Just because someone is 12 years old (Or even younger) doesn't mean they're idiots! Honestly, I've seen people YEARS older than me who probably can't even spell their own name. This girl is a genius, and you people need to appreciate her. Not because she's a kid, but because kids have a bad rep. You need to remember that age is just a number. A 12 year old could be as smart as an adult, and a 20 year old could be as impaired as an 8 year old.

[@BreakingTheGrid_OnYou]

Beautiful

[@xXShadedWolfXx]

I would listen to this any day.

[@thnkr]

Brikmal, we will be uploading the transcript soon!

[@Urstupidumbass]

That was great.

[@ViolinGuyNZ]

That last line... Wow.

[@NRLR89]

I like this channel, nothing but positive videos.

She is really good at poetry, I hope she keeps on doing what she does best.

[@timbaland916]

Beautiful..... I love it!!

[@AndyThinks]

She's writing stuff people well beyond her years wouldn't be able to piece together, and so elegantly too, but 12 isn't old enough to be writing poetry like this. I'd love to hear something upbeat from her, less mature.

[@hneufvil]

if she actually wrote that without any help then it is amazing. If she got help from her parents or teachers, then not so amazing.

[@dallasgudino65]

this girl is insanly good!!!

[@Intelrev]

Amazing video Kioni :)

[@emilielorraine]

Beautiful words.

[@trackNswim4life]

wow i can relate to this poem 100%

[@dallasgudino65]

this girl is insanly good

[@saad1505]

woow!!

[@guip09]

beautiful! I love this channel :)

[@gbolubunmi]

Awesome!!!

[@methodr999]

Excellent!

[@leewalstonjr]

very nice... wow.. more to you!

[@dementi3000]

amazing poem

[@Jland368]

Wow...!

[@eyecan8]

Very good

[@maiya133]

that is sooo good i didnt get a thing you said but it was good i cant even think of terms like that

[@leewalstonjr]

very nice... wow.

[@adamhe-man2720]

woot woot dis is kewl

[@JCisJD]

OK..... carry on and you might discover a poem about how poetry is about expression and not competition about good grace but most of all get out and express it...........She is and I respect her for it whatever I think of her poetry, how it effects me or misses me.

[@carzass]

Very powerful

[@whm_w8833]

someone, put the captions on Please!!

[@hajimesaito4997]

damn so deep

[@khangle67]

WOW.! VERY VERY POWERFUL POETRY SLAM, I LIKE IT A LOT I'M VERY VERY OUTSPOKEN I SAY WHATS ON MY MIND, I'M GOOD AT FREESTYLING I USED TO WRITE A LOT OF POEMS WHEN I WAS A KID, TOO MYSELF. I LISTENED TO LIKE BIGGIE TUPAC DR.DRE SNOOP DOGGY DOG WHEN HE WAS AROUND, ALL THE GREATS ICE CUBE, ETC

[@santaclare99]

:) beautiful

[@EndNuclearAgenda21]

thank you for the video

[@dotsdotsdots1]

damn!!! keep it up!

[@MineSpell21]

Stay focused stay true you are a rainbow !!

[@GregoryMakimei]

That's deep

[@smalltugz]

the next Maya Angelou right here

[@joyis229]

I love it!!!!:)

[@walterjones4576]

LET ME HEAR IT I AM A POET TOO

[@DeathG4n]

This was pretty good

[@dannystapleton4798]

She has to become a rapper.

[@jasminelake3902]

My life in one poem

[@mrsxedre]

yup, it's always good, when i don't understand a word of it.

[@thevalleycartel]

very interesting poem

[@oozaruks]

Keep it up kid :)

[@ethanrobinson6216]

I wish I was a prodigy!

[@carolinesunshiney]

Yeah KIONNNAAAYYY!!!! guess who :)

[@VaporizerBrothers]

Id buy her work.

[@x3DavidFTW]

isnt our opinion of poetry/ wether its good or bad..like subjective?

[@iluv2sing2000]

O...M....G.....:-O WOW

[@assassinbbx]

I've heard of them. I've never heard of greatest poet called Popcorn.

[@TheD3rpyLlama]

deep. She has a promising future.

[@Brikmal]

Could you please upload subtitles in English? I would like to understand the poem even if I am not a mother tongue. I would really like to know what she says but I struggle. Thank you.

[@moondanceff]

can you do closed captioning on the video?

[@tenziegilz22]

what's the name of the background music playing?

[@recolinotyu]

Like, where are the comments?

[@unipim]

profound

[@RehAdventures]

Inner cities students are phenomenal at poetry and other English related projects. However, as a former social studies teacher in the city, they are awful at research papers. Their math and science skills are also poor. This young lady is great, but not enough people encourage cities students to pursue the world of reason and logic and it is because emotions and feelings are constantly reiterated to them. We praise this kind of work and it just messes them up as they pursue high education.

[@Mikelovision]

Calm down, it's just an opinion. Plus we've all heard of those poets you listed. The title specifically says, "The Great Poet You've NEVER Heard." Not the Greatest poet ever heard. Also, who are you to say that she isn't a philosopher as well?

[@businessdork]

I was totally expecting her to say she's a Mormon at the end haha ( dmm dmm tss..)

[@freakyfriday8432]

@shalllomd prove it then

[@shawnee919]

: o !

[@loola456]

i guess she likes popcorn

[@JatorePrice]

I write poetry to. Will you please listen to mine?

[@BEMW97]

I don't like poems that do not rhyme, I wouldn't even buy one for a dime. Just a bunch of words that make no sense, (and btw...I am just putting in... my two-cents) written vertically from up to down, the lack of innovation makes me frown. Always about some negative thing, that leaves some people with a sting, and in the end all they provide, are thoughts of suicide. Such thoughts should not be written, as the negativeness should be smitten. (Only have room for one more rhyme) So get a kitten.

[@reblogo]

:')

[@Ki-rk9do]

that's ok maybe one day you will :)

[@NoodlemanNO1]

Surely you can't be serious?. I'm beginning to think that you are delirious.

[@bokicar1]

shes good but im 11 and i dont get it

[@claynumbers]

first commentator baby!

[@Stephano480]

Minde fuck

[@Lxndrn1]

haha

[@christopherpowell2596]

Nothing against this girl, but this is not "good" poetry. Look, I'm 26 now, and I've been reading and writing poetry since I was about five, consistently. I've generally avoided the public scene because publishers aren't good poets. They aren't supposed to be. They just sell. And this is just exploitation. Poetry is an art, and art is expression. When expression is perfected in the areas of articulation, prose, and also the factor of linguistic relativity, that's the measure of a good poet.

[@fetB]

Who says she is the greatest?

[@midlitt]

now if you could read it says she is the greatest poet you never heard not implying that she is the greatest ever simply stating that she is an amazing poet .and "not bad for a kid" lets see you do better at 12

[@cutecavity]

Why a rapper? Lyrical African American does not equate to rapper by default.

[@willfeav]

Poetry doesn't do anything for me, but fair play to her for expressing herself, would be nice if things were a bit more cheery though!

[@zooby11isbambam]

i don't really get why it's good... but i'm not a poet either :P

[@Desert2GardenLV]

Well isnt that precious...:-)

[@guillotinevelena4491]

I write in a few magazines and local paper. She is a regular, not much of a prodigy.

[@MaithamXX]

yeah I could do it better

[@shalllomd]

I am 14 and I think I write better poems than these.

[@Thekirbycross]

I always prefer poems that rhyme. I think the rest are wastes of time.