美国国家公共电台 NPR--The latest crowd-sourced poem is about hope for the new school year

The latest crowd-sourced poem is about hope for the new school year

Transcript¹

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to poet in residence Kwame Alexander, who shares his latest community crowd-sourced poem about the goals that teachers, parents and students have set for themselves.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Back for another edition of MORNING EDITION's poetry segment with our poet in residence, Kwame Alexander. Hey, Kwame.

KWAME ALEXANDER, BYLINE²: Hey, Rachel. Like Rumi said, let the beauty we love be what we do. And I love my job.

(LAUGHTER)

ALEXANDER: And my job, of course, is to change the world one word at a time.

MARTIN: Yes. So we asked our listeners to help you do that, to help write a poem about a goal they had for this school year. And they responded with some just beautiful words.

ALEXANDER: Indeed, they did. We have students, teachers, parents. They all shared their hopes and goals and promises.

MARTIN: And you did the thing. You took the poems. And like a puzzle maker³, you created a community, crowdsourced poem from our listener submissions⁴. And you've brought it this morning. And we're going to read it. Are you ready to do it?

ALEXANDER: I'm ready, Rachel.

MARTIN: OK. Here we go. You start.

ALEXANDER: (Reading) This year shall be different. I want to teach my children there is a hopeful future still ahead, and that kids like themselves - dogged and bent⁵ and quirky and kind - are going to make it. I want to wipe away their tears, confront all their fears, step into the need, give them voice and choice - seek to employ a house of greater joy, then stop good teachers from leaving because we are scaffolding somebody's a sweeter society.

MARTIN: (Reading) This year, I promise to paper over the stain on the wall, find one more student desk from the hall, replenish⁶ the Band-Aid supply by the door, stash⁷ spare snacks - peanut free, to be sure. Sort and organize the knowledge of centuries into a learning management system. Grade the papers. Monitor the anxiety. Organize your backpack when papers come unfurled. Sit with you as you rage against the world. Focus on the big questions in a culture of fast answers.

ALEXANDER: (Reading) You see, this year, I've got colleges to tour, teachers to bore, math to do, teachers to woo, essays to write, sources to cite, shoes to tie, important people to look in the eye.

MARTIN: (Reading) Quizzes to complete - try not to make a mistake. Got to learn to drive, learn to slam the brakes. My room is a mess. I have a bed to make.

ALEXANDER: (Reading) Daily habit to teach, parents I need to reach. And as soon as I get a minute, I just may ask an author to visit.

MARTIN: (Reading) I've got friends to make, long tests to take, A's to pursue, a new hairdo. Homework to do, so no haiku - sports to play, exams to slay⁸, birthdays to celebrate and debates to moderate. Meals to make. Breaks to take. There are dreams to believe and goals to achieve. And all the while, I need to keep my smile.

ALEXANDER: (Reading) This year, I have to learn from my oversights⁹ so life can be full of many delights. I have a great many doors to open. Lessons to plan, make them engaging. Kids to care for, make them feel welcome. Communities to build, make them feel safe. This year, I'll smell the grass and the leaves, breathe the air that blows through the trees, take a step back and realize that I also have myself to please.

MARTIN: (Reading) This year, I'll try to make many quick decisions and try to be hopeful to avoid any mental collision. Reach young children. Be a star. Get down low. See eye to eye. Be in the know. And by and by, turn on the air purifier. Open a window to set free yesterday's air. Make this room be a place where we ignite possibility.

ALEXANDER: (Reading) It's been a week. And I've already labeled all the folders¹⁰, arranged our chairs in fours, laminated calming posters, hung a hall pass by the door. A neighbor's old armchair, a soft pillow to hug, I put them in the corner next to the donated rug. I finished my compliance¹¹ training in the nick of time, checked out the pristine¹² wellness room - our new paradigm¹³. I printed out the rosters¹⁴, found the copy room, sent the boss my syllabus¹⁵, including links to Zoom¹⁶. I've got chocolate in my desk and coffee pods on the shelf. This year, we're going to do it. Take care of our mental health.

MARTIN: (Reading) This year shall be different. I will wait in line. Raise my hand. Be respectful. Listen to my teacher. Learn the new curriculum. Welcome my students. I will thrive because...

ALEXANDER: (Reading) Because I want to show them they are worthy¹⁷, that no skin, muscle, heart, mind or way of loving makes them less worthy - that the world is full of beautiful variety, that the loss of anyone is grievous to all.

MARTIN: (Reading) That listening is a gift to the other, that speaking is an act of courage, that believing is as vital as breath, that discovering is more important than knowing, that loving is more important than being right.

ALEXANDER: (Reading) But if I had to choose just one thing, I think I'd be happy if I could just be with friends and somehow, someway, find myself again.

MARTIN: Oh, I love that. I love that.

ALEXANDER: So did I.

MARTIN: That was so...

ALEXANDER: No crying, Rachel.

MARTIN: No crying (laughter).

ALEXANDER: All laughter and love.

MARTIN: We are leaning into the joy of the new school year - so, so good. Thank you so much, Kwame.

ALEXANDER: This is going to be some year. Magical. And that makes me so hopeful, Rachel. Thank you.

MARTIN: Yeah. Yeah. Kwame Alexander, the executive producer of "The Crossover" on Disney+ and the host of "America's Next Great Author." Kwame, thanks, as always.

ALEXANDER: Thank you, Rachel.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

4 submissions   

n.提交( submission的名词复数 )；屈从；归顺；向法官或陪审团提出的意见或论据

参考例句：

• The deadline for submissions to the competition will be Easter 1994. 递交参赛申请的截止时间为1994年的复活节。 来自辞典例句
• Section 556(d) allows the agency to substitute written submissions for oral direct testimony in rulemaking. 第五百五十六条第（四）款准允行政机关在规则制定中用书面提交材料替代口头的直接证言。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

5 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

6 replenish   

vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满

参考例句：

• I always replenish my food supply before it is depleted.我总是在我的食物吃完之前加以补充。
• We have to import an extra 4 million tons of wheat to replenish our reserves.我们不得不额外进口四百万吨小麦以补充我们的储备。

7 stash   

v.藏或贮存于一秘密处所；n.隐藏处

参考例句：

• Stash away both what you lost and gained,for life continues on.将得失深藏心底吧，为了那未来的生活。
• That's supposed to be in our private stash.这是我的私人珍藏。

8 slay   

v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮

参考例句：

• He intended to slay his father's murderer.他意图杀死杀父仇人。
• She has ordered me to slay you.她命令我把你杀了。

9 oversights   

n.疏忽( oversight的名词复数 )；忽略；失察；负责

参考例句：

• He saw shocking oversights and inefficiencies that made the Separatist invasion possible. 他看出在首都遭到分裂势力入侵的背后是惊人的疏漏与低效。 来自互联网
• Instead it means that the submitted code has no glaringly obvious oversights. 相反，它意味着所提交的代码没有突出的显而易见的疏忽或错漏。 来自互联网

10 folders   

n.文件夹( folder的名词复数 )；纸夹；（某些计算机系统中的）文件夹；页面叠

参考例句：

• Encrypt and compress individual files and folders. The program is compact, efficient and user friendly. 加密和压缩的个人档案和folders.the计划是紧凑，高效和用户友好。 来自互联网
• By insertion of photocopies,all folders can be maintained complete with little extra effort. 插入它的复制本，不费多大力量就能使所有文件夹保持完整。 来自辞典例句

11 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

12 pristine   

adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的

参考例句：

• He wiped his fingers on his pristine handkerchief.他用他那块洁净的手帕擦手指。
• He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.他本不想去玷污那清白的过去。

13 paradigm   

n.例子，模范，词形变化表

参考例句：

• He had become the paradigm of the successful man. 他已经成为成功人士的典范。
• Moreover,the results of this research can be the new learning paradigm for digital design studios.除此之外，本研究的研究成果也可以为数位设计课程建立一个新的学习范例。

14 rosters   

n.花名册( roster的名词复数 )；候选名单v.将（姓名）列入值勤名单( roster的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Teams have until Monday, Oct. 29 to set their rosters. 球队可以在下周一之前，即10月29确定他们的15人常规赛名单。 来自互联网
• Rosters, R& R, FIFO or country-based lifestyle limiting your opportunities? 枯燥单调的生活方式限制了你的机会？ 来自互联网

15 syllabus   

n.教学大纲，课程大纲

参考例句：

• Have you got next year's syllabus?你拿到明年的教学大纲了吗？
• We must try to diversify the syllabus to attract more students.我们应该使教学大纲内容多样化，可以多吸引学生。

16 zoom   

n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升

参考例句：

• The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
• I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近，昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。

17 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。