Spoken-word poet Britta B. looks back on a turbulent 2017 — in verse
2017 has been a tumultuous year. From devastating hurricanes to North Korean missiles to hot-button issues surrounding race and gender, staying up on the news seems to have taken its toll on all of us.
Everyone deals with turmoil in different ways. One way to channel those emotions is through art.
Day 6 asked spoken-word poet Britta B. to bring her vision and voice to create an original poem for us that revisits the trends and headlines of 2017.
Originally from Kingston, Ont., Britta Badour now resides in Toronto. Since 2013, she has garnered invitations to perform her poetry across North America.
Here's a transcript of her piece from this week's show:
The absolute planet resides in my skin.
Still questioned the origins of my melanin.
English is my mother tongue.
Still asked, "Where are you really from?"
My life is the life of the Infinite. Restricted by laws to remain small and silent.
Nothing's as good as the greater good. Nothing's as fragmented as human-kindness.
In a break-even era, it's hard work to relax.
For every sip of lemonade in a glass is a giant rubber duck staring back, sucking up government funds.
As we enter the scene of 2017, America inaugurates the kind of president who throws paper towels at hurricane-hit victims.
#NotMyPresident
As millions around the world chant in unison for the Women's March on Washington,
Women's Rights are HUMAN Rights
In 2017, my hometown bids farewell to a Tragically Hip dude.
In 2017, Canada celebrates 150 years of Confederation leaving many to wonder, have we moved any closer toward truth and reconciliation?
In 2017, headlines echo social media trending topics as we hash-tag-hash-tag hash-tag our pain away.
#RohingyaCrisis #Jerusalem #NorthKorea #Somalia #TakeAKnee #BlackLivesMatter #RIP #metoo #IBelieveYou
Scrolling through our timelines we lose track of what time it is.
Common sense says fatigue is more common than inspiration is.
It takes less effort to refresh the screen of the year 2017 than it does getting to the root of our human stories.
The human story behind the existence of blackness.
The human story behind the refugee crisis.
The human story behind the water crisis of the First Nations.
The human story behind every woman and child fighting to be heard.
I believe everyone is born with the ability to end the cycle of violence, but 2017 proves it's easier to maintain an argument than it is sustaining stable environments.
It seems we suffer sensory fatigue.
The information we receive has no value to our daily routines.
Until violence, disease and hunger affects us personally.
Will we come to terms with the difficult questions prevalent in our communities?
Or are we raising the next generation to become caricatures of culture and political parodies?
The absolute planet resides in my skin. My life is the life of the Infinite.
There's still some good left for the greater good.
To hear Britta deliver her poem, download our podcast or click the 'Listen' button at the top of this page.