"A Bird Made of Birds" | Sarah Kay

TL;DR

This content explores the idea that the universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing, and discusses the author's perspective on creativity and finding meaning in the world.

Transcript

I have a friend named Kaveh Akbar, who is a fellow poet. And Kaveh found this photo online of the anatomical heart of a blue whale that scientists had hung on a hook from the ceiling, which is how they were able to observe that the heart of a blue whale is big enough that a person can stand up fully inside of it. And when Kaveh shared this photo on... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 The universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing, which initially may seem discouraging, but it can be empowering to embrace what the universe has already shown us and use it as inspiration.
• 🐋 The heart of a blue whale is big enough for a person to stand fully inside, reminding us of the incredible grandeur and scale of the natural world.
• 🕊️ Watching starlings fly in a murmuration and form the shape of a starling in the sky demonstrates the beauty and precision of nature's choreography.
• 📝 Instead of striving to invent something completely new, our role may be to listen to the universe and remain open to its offerings so that we can bring something unique to light when it's our time.
• 💫 The universe's creations are often breathtaking and awe-inspiring, making it difficult for our language to capture their brilliance or for others to believe in their truth.
• 🐦 We are all made up of interconnected parts, like a bird made of birds, emphasizing the interconnectedness and unity of all things.
• ❤️ Even if our contributions may not be the first or the best, they are significant in ensuring that we truly lived and left our mark on the world.
• 🍇 Sometimes, the most remarkable creations, like a fig fruits, emerge from transformative processes, such as a lady wasp laying her eggs inside a flower and decomposing.

Questions & Answers

Q: What did Kaveh Akbar's photo of the anatomical heart of a blue whale symbolize for the speaker?

The photo symbolized the idea that the universe has already written the poem the speaker was planning on writing. It initially horrified the speaker, who felt that their creativity was overshadowed by the vastness and grandeur of the universe.

Q: How did the video of the starlings flying in a murmuration change the speaker's perspective?

The video made the speaker realize that maybe their role as a poet is not to invent something completely new, but rather to listen to what the universe is showing them and to stay open to its offerings. It inspired the speaker to hold something up to the light, even if only for a fleeting moment.

Q: What is the significance of the poem being brighter than language can capture and so true that it is difficult for others to believe?

This signifies the power and transcendence of a truly profound and authentic poem. It suggests that sometimes language falls short in fully expressing the brilliance of a poem, and its truth is so profound that it may be met with skepticism or disbelief from others.

Q: What does the speaker mean by saying "I am a bird made of birds" and "This blue heart a house you can stand up inside of"?

These phrases are metaphors used to describe the speaker's identity and purpose as a poet. "I am a bird made of birds" suggests that the speaker is composed of the collective experiences and voices of others. "This blue heart a house you can stand up inside of" signifies the vastness and depth of their emotions, capable of encompassing and sheltering others within its poetic expression.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker's poet friend shared a photo online of the anatomical heart of a blue whale, emphasizing that the universe has already written the poem they were planning on writing.

• Initially, the speaker was horrified and felt discouraged, thinking that they wouldn't be able to invent anything new or contribute to the world's grandeur.

• However, after seeing a video of starlings flying and forming the shape of a starling in the sky, the speaker realized that their role may be to listen to what the universe is showing them and offer their unique perspective.