We Are More! - Shane K.

Fredkc · 02-13-2010, 05:07 PM

I was introduced to this guy by Celine. Shane K. is what I hear is called
a "Slam Poet". That term alone is enough to make an old fart like me run in disgust. Ok, so I was wrong.

The man breathes magic, woven in words.

Last night at the Vancouver opening ceremonies, the whole world got a shot at his work. I have searched, and so far, there isn't a Youtube of his performance last night. There is an earlier copy of this poem, but it is a shorter version. You can get a listing of his stuff that is on youtube here.

Until the "Olympics version" is there, I snagged a copy of the text. This is it. Reading or listening, it works for me. The rhythm, and even the crescendo is still there. (more at bottom)

We Are More

by Shane Koyczan

When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
might even mention the fact that we've got a few

Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines

when defining Canada
it seems the world's anthem has been
" been there done that"
and maybe that's where we used to be at

it's true
we've done and we've been
we've seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks

but when defining Canada
don't forget to mention that we have set sparks

we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away

we do more than sit around and say "eh?"

and yes
we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines

off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you're welcome
well we say that too

but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized

we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history

we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee

we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own

knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today
filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like "someday"

someday we'll be great
someday we'll be this
or that

someday we'll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks
more than backpacks and hiking trails

we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across

we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers

we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do

we live to get past what we go through
and learn who we are

we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don't have all the answers
but we try

and the effort is what makes us more
we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep

as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you've been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring
because we are more
than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
we are more than hills to ski
or countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait
we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes

a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a land that can give you variety
because we are choices
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
" keep exploring... we are more"
we are the surprise the world has in store for you

it's true
Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"
so don't say "been there done that"
unless you've sat on the sidewalk
while chalk artists draw still lifes
on the concrete of a kid in the street
beatboxing to Neil Young for fun

don't say you've been there done that
unless you've been here doing it

let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
let us be the story told to your friends

and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you'll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn't pack for the first time

but don't let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry

we are the true north
strong and free
and what's more
is that we didn't just say it
we made it be.
___________________________________

Wow

Incredibly refreshing to see someone speak of living, and expanding the experience of freedom in some context other than who/how many we can kill. The last stanza brought me to tears for all that has slipped away from us in the last few decades...

We are the true north,
Strong and free,
And what's more,
Is that we didn't just say it,
We made it be.

King Lear · 02-13-2010, 10:24 PM

Just kiddin'

We love our Canadians!

Céline · 02-15-2010, 04:09 PM

Yes !!!

I love this guy...Thank you for posting this Fred...

There is no video of it because the IOC has been very diligent in not allowing it to be uploaded..

My favorite of his at this moment...is a very REAL love poem..

On a side note to King Lear...I find your joke condescending and insulting..

Your comment IMO is against the guidelines here at PA and i will be reporting it..

Anchor · 02-15-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Lear

Just kiddin'

We love our Canadians!

We ?

Please quit with the offensive humour. It needs context to work properly, and Avalon is not the right context.

A..

Fredkc · 02-16-2010, 09:03 PM

02-13-2010, 05:07 PM	#1
Fredkc Project Avalon Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Riverside, ca. Posts: 898	We Are More! - Shane K. I was introduced to this guy by Celine. Shane K. is what I hear is called a "Slam Poet". That term alone is enough to make an old fart like me run in disgust. Ok, so I was wrong. The man breathes magic, woven in words. Last night at the Vancouver opening ceremonies, the whole world got a shot at his work. I have searched, and so far, there isn't a Youtube of his performance last night. There is an earlier copy of this poem, but it is a shorter version. You can get a listing of his stuff that is on youtube here. Until the "Olympics version" is there, I snagged a copy of the text. This is it. Reading or listening, it works for me. The rhythm, and even the crescendo is still there. (more at bottom) We Are More by Shane Koyczan When defining Canada you might list some statistics you might mention our tallest building or biggest lake you might shake a tree in the fall and call a red leaf Canada you might rattle off some celebrities might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie might even mention the fact that we've got a few Barenaked Ladies or that we made these crazy things like zippers electric cars and washing machines when defining Canada it seems the world's anthem has been " been there done that" and maybe that's where we used to be at it's true we've done and we've been we've seen all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine and turned into theme parks but when defining Canada don't forget to mention that we have set sparks we are not just fishing stories about the one that got away we do more than sit around and say "eh?" and yes we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One who inspired little number nines and little number ninety-nines but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes and some say what defines us is something as simple as please and thank you and as for you're welcome well we say that too but we are more than genteel or civilized we are an idea in the process of being realized we are young we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry and the design is what makes us more than the sum total of our history we are an experiment going right for a change with influences that range from a to zed and yes we say zed instead of zee we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy we dream so big that there are those who would call our ambition an industry because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow we do more than grow wheat and brew beer we are vineyards of good year after good year we reforest what we clear because we believe in generations beyond our own knowing now that so many of us have grown past what used to be we can stand here today filled with all the hope people have when they say things like "someday" someday we'll be great someday we'll be this or that someday we'll be at a point when someday was yesterday and all of our aspirations will pay the way for those who on that day look towards tomorrow and still they say someday we will reach the goals we set and we will get interest on our inspiration because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks more than backpacks and hiking trails we are hammers and nails building bridges towards those who are willing to walk across we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss we are not the see-through gloss or glamour of those who clamour for the failings of others we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers uncles and nephews aunts and nieces we are cousins we are found missing puzzle pieces we are families with room at the table for newcomers we are more than summers and winters more than on and off seasons we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay because we are more than what we say or do we live to get past what we go through and learn who we are we are students students who study the studiousness of studying so we know what as well as why we don't have all the answers but we try and the effort is what makes us more we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for so keep exploring go far and wide or go inside but go deep go deep as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss and suddenly there was this location scout trying to figure some way out to get inside you because you've been through hell and high water and you went deep keep exploring because we are more than a laundry list of things to do and places to see we are more than hills to ski or countryside ponds to skate we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes a country that is all the ways you choose to live a land that can give you variety because we are choices we are millions upon millions of voices shouting " keep exploring... we are more" we are the surprise the world has in store for you it's true Canada is the "what" in "what's new?" so don't say "been there done that" unless you've sat on the sidewalk while chalk artists draw still lifes on the concrete of a kid in the street beatboxing to Neil Young for fun don't say you've been there done that unless you've been here doing it let this country be your first-aid kit for all the times you get sick of the same old same old let us be the story told to your friends and when that story ends leave chapters for the next time you'll come back next time pack for all the things you didn't pack for the first time but don't let your luggage define your travels each life unravels differently and experiences are what make up the colours of our tapestry we are the true north strong and free and what's more is that we didn't just say it we made it be. ___________________________________ Wow Incredibly refreshing to see someone speak of living, and expanding the experience of freedom in some context other than who/how many we can kill. The last stanza brought me to tears for all that has slipped away from us in the last few decades... We are the true north, Strong and free, And what's more, Is that we didn't just say it, We made it be. __________________ "Life IS mystical! It's just that we're used to it" Evil cannot be killed. Only redeemed. Chat us up at: Avalon Chat

02-13-2010, 10:24 PM	#2
King Lear Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Not S-4 Posts: 306	Re: We Are More! - Shane K. Just kiddin' We love our Canadians!

02-15-2010, 04:09 PM	#3
Céline Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,285	Re: We Are More! - Shane K. Yes !!! I love this guy...Thank you for posting this Fred... There is no video of it because the IOC has been very diligent in not allowing it to be uploaded.. My favorite of his at this moment...is a very REAL love poem.. On a side note to King Lear...I find your joke condescending and insulting.. Your comment IMO is against the guidelines here at PA and i will be reporting it..

02-16-2010, 09:03 PM	#5
Fredkc Project Avalon Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Riverside, ca. Posts: 898	Re: We Are More! - Shane K. __________________ "Life IS mystical! It's just that we're used to it" Evil cannot be killed. Only redeemed. Chat us up at: Avalon Chat