Five More of the Best: Poetry Videos

Happy World Poetry Day!

Poetic prowess, incredible lyricism, spoken word magic, there’s nothing we here at TenEighty HQ love more than poetry. We’ve always been amazed at how much punch the spoken word can pack, and while we ourselves might not be the most talented at writing poems, we love seeing our favourite YouTubers showcase their personal works with the world. If you’re looking for something to inspire you or are simply in the mood to click your fingers in agreement, these videos are definitely for you.

Here they are, our Five More of the Best: Poetry Videos!

I’m Ugly | Spoken Word Poetry | ClickForTaz

We’re kicking things off with a spoken word piece that’s definitely going to hit deep with the majority of viewers. Titled I’m Ugly, it sees Taz Alam speaking about the insecurities we have about our bodies and how we look, and how such feelings affect those around us. Taz takes on the view of our loved ones, our friends and family, who don’t care about how we look on the outside and, instead, love us for who we are on the inside. While we might not realise it, how we feel about ourselves has a way of hurting them too.

We’re not going to lie, this video made us shed a few tears, simply because of how close to home it hit. We’re constantly seeking validation from others, when what we really need is self-love. It’s hard to recognise the ridiculously high standards set by society, but it’s something we all need to re-evaluate, so that we can appreciate who we are as individuals. We aren’t defined by how our bodies look. We’re defined by our actions, our feelings and who we are on the inside.

Why I Hate School But Love Education [Official Spoken Word Video] | Suli Breaks

This spoken word piece by Suli Breaks is an oldie, but a goodie. In it, he looks at education and why school might not necessarily be the means by which we become fully educated. As Suli mentions, nowadays school isn’t simply about education. Instead of learning how to achieve one’s goals and dreams, it’s become more about memorising facts, acing exams and getting good grades. How is one able to achieve their dreams if they’re forced to focus all their time on passing?

Suli points out that numerous people who we as a society would deem “successful” never pursued higher education. They realized they didn’t need school to be happy. They learned from life’s lessons and what inspires them, and went after what was of interest. However, that’s not to say school is evil. We just have to understand why we’re in it and why we’re pursuing our education. If you want to be in school, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s also valid. Look at your motives and redefine how you view education to suit the pursuit of your own dreams, because as Suli says, “If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to build theirs.”

‘Bystander’ | Slam Poetry | Kukadoodles

Whether we want to admit it or not, we’ve all been in this situation: we witness something that’s not right. Bullying, racism, sexism, we see someone acting poorly toward another, but we don’t say anything. We keep quit, turn a blind eye and walk in the other direction. What does that make us? Bystanders.

In this slam poem, Christy Ku talks about the pain a bystander can cause by staying silent when they see someone being racist toward another. In this emotion-filled piece, she questions why the bystanders choose not to fight or speak up, and urges them to do the opposite of what they have been doing all along. She urges them to speak up against the abuse, side with those who are being targeted and offer comfort. We can’t quite put into words how powerful Christy’s words are and we hope everyone listens to them.

Spoken Word Poetry UK – A LETTER TO ALL MEN | Keshav Bhatt

In this spoken word piece about what it really means to be a man, Keshav Bhatt redefines the term “man up”. Society tells us that, to be a man, one mustn’t cry or show emotion. If they go out on a date with a woman, they need to be the one to pay. They can’t be weak, show fear or let those around them know just how much they are loved. It’s a toxic definition of masculinity and one that shouldn’t exist.

The message Keshav aims to deliver through Letter To Men is that it’s okay to be vulnerable and show emotion. Be real and be yourself. Doing so is its own strength, and those watching are urged to express themselves and not hide away, because doing so limits your chances to connect with those around you. Just because you’re a man, doesn’t mean you have to be independent and not let anyone in. There is strength and unity in numbers, and in opening up to those around you.

Snow | Poem | Izzy Eze

As we grow older, we forget to appreciate the little things in life. We get so caught up in our day-to-day lives that we simply forget to sit back, breathe and take in our surroundings. This is something Izzy Eze covers in her beautiful poem, Snow.

Snow is piece that reminds us to look at the things that used to give us joy, such as snowflakes. Each one is different and unique, but that doesn’t make them any less beautiful. While we tend to get annoyed by snow, as it often disrupts our day, Izzy reminds us to stop and look at just how beautiful Mother Nature can be. Through this, everything becomes calm and we feel at peace, not just with ourselves, but with the world. Welcome to a whole new world of mindfulness.

So there you have it…

Our Five More of the Best: Poetry Videos! We don’t know about you, but there’s something about these videos that has us itching to grab a pen and paper and try our hand at writing something lyrical and poetic.

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