Sarah Kunz

3/27/16
Shane Smith
Humanities
Civic engagement: (Freeby option)
I had the profound and most marvelous opportunity to watch Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye
perform their original spoken word poetry at the Park City Institute on March 26. This was an
experience that I had been awaiting and brooding with excitement to attend. Poetry and
Philosophy to me intertwine so intrinsically together. They are the intangible mumbling of
pureness. Poetry whittles an individual down to their rawest form of emotion and experience,
akin to philosophy. Its about the earnest truth, finding your individual truth. It can be used to
explain or contemplate this massive whirlpool of despair and beauty in which we call life. There
is no bullshit in poetry its about grit and gouging beneath the surface, digging for answers and
clarity. Poetry tells a story that we can all relate to. Poetry is all around as in the grime under our
fingernails, on your first date, or even sitting on the crapper. Like Philosophy Poetry brings
meaning to this often dismal life we lead.
Poetry is an extremely empowering form of art work, although it can explain feelings of
repression reclusion denial and confusion to be able to string those words together in a
mannerism so true to you it pulsates through your sinew, is a human testament of life and
emotion. Poetry is not for weak people; it is quite the contrary. Being able to accept emotions
and the uncertainty this mutant maw of a mother earth has in store for us is one not only
expressing your identity as a free individual but a sentient one as well. These individuals who are

willing to harness themselves to the ambiguity of their words and take a plunge spread eagle and
smiling, these are the heroes. As a young fragile fleshy dew drop I do find this to be a
responsibility of mine, to engage with the real world of raw emotion. To stride forward and
refuse to be swirled down the drain into false perception. To engage in activities like this not
only sharpen my mind, but instill a sense of confidence within me. I feel a personal duty to
become a genuine, confident, raw as a bloody steak, person. As I am entering the field of Special
Education, it is so incredibly important to me that the children Im able to interact with see me as
a person, see me as my natural emotions and quirks and then in turn find value in themselves and
the purity that comes along with such.
Not everyone is going to develop such an ardent passion and love for poetry as I do,
which is fine, of course! We need diversity. But for me, poetry, spoken word and literature has
become an outlet for me to seek empowerment and empower others. And in turn they will be
encouraged to find an outlet that strips them down to their most exposed and rawest form, so
when they hold themselves at night its their mind and the beautiful vines sprouting from it that
keeps them warm. This is how we create a generation of leaders, innovators and educators. Rich
indulgent passion is only found when one is confident in their raw form.
This experience allows me to indulge and submerge myself in emotion and reevaluate my
path and my mission to stay genuine to myself. Reading Poetry is often a daily activity of mine,
but being able to observe the human reaction and interpretation of live poetry is such a treat. It
encourages the growth of empathy and in this ever growing spiteful and jaded world establishing
your empathy insures your true position as a human. Sharing your human experience in a form
like such is the definition of selflessness. You can be so gregarious without every spending a
cent, sharing your life your words your experience can change a life.

Now lookey here we have a completely dazzled star struck Sarah pictured with her poetic super
heroes. (They were quite tall, proof of them being demi gods..? Possibly)