From Construction Worker to Poet Noble Prize Nominee Bei Dao Shares His Poetry with Northside by Brendali Rios
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From construction worker to poet Noble Prize Nominee Bei Dao shares his poetry with Northside by Brendali Rios On Thursday Mar. 1, students gathered in the third floor atrium to listen to guest Th speaker Mr. Bei Dao. Thanks to the English Department’s efforts, Mr. Dao came in and talked about his journey as a writer who was The Student Newspaper of Northside College Prep HS penalized for just that—his writing. Mr. Benincasa addresses the audience before introducing Mr. Dao. | ANDRIANA MITRAKOS April 2012, Volume 12, Number 7 In 1949, he was born Zhao Zhenkai in Online at www.thehoofbeat.com Beijing to a middle class family. He later took compared the magnitude of his fame to that hungry for books. We would steal them from the nickname Bei Dao which translates into of The Beatles. He told stories of Mr. Dao the library.” “Northern Island” due to his northern origins being chased by fans who wanted to catch a After his speech, Dao read excerpts from and preference for solitude. The Cultural Rev- glimpse of the acclaimed poet who could pack his poems in Chinese. His translator, Eliot olution, which lasted 10 years, cut his educa- stadiums of over 40,000 people who came to Weinberger then proceeded to read the Eng- tion at the junior high level. His early profes- listen to him speak. lish version of the same poem. sion as a construction worker ultimately led Harris introduced Dao by mentioning “Your name has two windows/one opens him to speak out through poetry during the some of his accomplishments and painting towards a sun with no clock-hands/the other revolution. During the 1989 pro-democracy the setting for the story that Mr. Dao was opens towards your father/who has become a protests, Bei Dao wrote a poem which be- about to tell. Mr. Bei Dao then took the po- hedgehog in exile/taking with him a few un- came the protesters anthem. While attending dium and greeted the audience. In a heavy intelligible characters and a bright red apple/ a literacy conference in Berlin, he was told he Chinese accent and a very soft-spoken voice, he has left your painting/how vast is a five- could not return to his wife, child, and China. he told the story of his struggle and journey year-old sky.” Weinberger translated. Later while in exile, Mr. Dao wrote through Europe with nothing but his poems This excerpt from Dao’s poem, “A Picture many poems, such as “Requiem” and “New in hand. (for Tiantian’s fifth birthday)” shows his abil- Year,” which are now among his great- “Writing was dangerous back then,” Dao ity to personify and objectify, which is one of est. World renowned Bei Dao has had his said. “Most American students wouldn’t un- his signature styles. In this poem, Dao refers work translated into over 40 languages derstand. The police took everything one to having to leave his wife and five-year-old and has received several nominations time: my poems, notebooks, everything. I daughter behind in China. for the Noble Peace Prize for literature. had to build my own secret room so that I The presentation ended with a Q&A ses- Mr. Dao was accompanied by his translator could write and not get caught. The only way sion, in which students asked Mr. Dao what Eliot Weinberger and Susan Harris, the edi- to make copies of things was by hand.” his favorite poem was. torial director of Words without Borders, an People back then were hungry for knowl- “The ones that are yet to be written; the online magazine of literature in translation edge but did not have the means to acquire it. ones that are coming,” Dao said. Mr. Dao speaks about his poetry. | ANDRIANA MITRAKOS As Mr. Weinberger introduced Dao, he “We stole books,” Dao said. “We were Sleeping through the alarm Listen to the poem! Slam Poetry Team wins Kenwood Academy’s Kristin Turner re- ceived the first 10 out of 10 score from the at Louder Than a Bomb judges, but was trumped by Gonzalez’s piece about Puerto Rico that earned raving scores, by Andrew Hague all above 9, from the judges. Chance the Rap- per, a hip hop artist who graduated from Northside’s poets reigned supreme at the Whitney Young, started off the third round Louder Than a Bomb finals when they won with a new track of his upcoming album, with a difference of half a point among the #10Day. Sauter was next for Northside who top three teams at the Vic Theatre on Mar. 10. opened up with a piece commenting on the The dimly lit venue roared to life once American society that got the crowd snapping the emcees of the Louder Than a Bomb fi- and shouting for more after he ended. nals opened the night with a dosage of quick Northside’s piece, performed by Sauter, Ms. Irizary waits in line to face Dr. Murphy who is attending late students. | SYLVIA WTORKOWSKI and clever lines that got the audience snap- Gonzalez, James Amick, Adv. 300, and Emma ping and cheering. Northside was one of four by Sylvia Wtorkowski a model for students because if my faculty Coleman, Adv. 309, called “The Commute” teams competing alongside Whitney Young and staff can’t get to work on time, how can I was one of the best received group poems of High School, “Epic Sounds” from Kenwood The always punctual Ms. Irizary, expect my students to get here on time?” Dr. the night by the judges, and it secured North- Academy, and Julian High School. more commonly known as “the atten- Murphy said. “Just as students will be penal- side’s slim victory. In the first three rounds, a poet from dance lady,” walked through North- ized, you will be too. You will be reprimanded, “Is this the reason that your thigh shifted each team read their own poem. Group poet- side’s entrance in shame on Mar. 23. and it will be in your personal file.” a little uncomfortably to the right of mine, to ry was featured in the fourth and final round. For the past twelve years, Ms. Irizary Dr. Murphy was visibly frustrated and create that extra inch of schism between our After each piece, the panel of judges rated the has been at her desk at 7:25 each morning. questioned Ms. Irizary as to why she was lives?” the poem read. poem on a scale of 1 through 10. The poetry However, on Mar. 23, she briskly walked into tardy for work. Her light mood took a turn for Kenwood Academy placed second, Whit- touched on multiple powerful subjects, in- the building 40 minutes late. Numerous tardy the worse when she received the blunt reply, ney Young placed third, and Julian High cluding death, sexuality, and heritage. Tyler students stood in line, IDs in hand, waiting “I’m never late but today my alarm clock School placed fourth. Mrs. Flanagan was rec- Sauter, Adv. 200, and Ashley Gonzalez, Adv. for Ms.Irizary to mark them tardy and send didn’t go off. I overslept. I’m sorry.” ognized earlier for her hard work for the team 209, were both given honorable mention for them up to their individual advisory rooms. by winning the coach of the year award. the Poem of the Contest Award. For the first few minutes, these students “It’s still hard for us to believe that we AJ Tran, Adv. 201, was the first poet to waited patiently for Ms. Irizary to come take won,” Tran said. “We thought for sure that get things going for Northside with her poem her place in the office. However, they quickly Whitney had taken first. It’s just been a crazy “Dear First Grade Teacher.” became fed up and showed her numerous season, and we’re ecstatic to be competing at “Boys line up on the left side, girls line looks of irritation the moment she walked Brave New Voices during July 17-22 in San up on the right,” Tran started, articulating through the doors. “I feel terrible,” Ms.Irizary Fransisco, which is the National Slam [Com- her words with shifty hand gestures. “I need said, “It’s more work for the other clerk.” petition].” two boys to hold open the doors for the la- As the line began to crowd the first floor, dies, and remember, ladies first. At these Dr. Murphy walked into the midst of the For videos of the winning words a line of nurses walk head held high be- chaos. Seeing the crowd of students in the fore their proud soldiers, proud because they pieces as well as other pieces first floor entrance, Dr. Murphy had to stop get to flaunt their growing arms to girls who by the Slam poetry team visit: her work in order to take Ms. Irizarry’s place. Ms. Irizary and Dr. Murphy have an argument when stand a head taller than they are.” www.thehoofbeat.com She stated, “Ms. Irizary, you need to be she arrives late to work. | SYLVIA WTORKOWSKI ONLINE Visit www. thehoofbeat.com for more articles. NCP NEWS Photos: Elephaant witthh Rriiddeerrss Local School Council (LSC) Report year for CWIP, and SIPAAA will not be taking by Zobia Chunara place this cycle. -PARC is a new assessment aligned with Meeting: March 13 Common Core National Standards. Current- Present: John Ceisel, Kathleen Andrade, ly, Northside students take EPAS EXPLORE Barry Rodgers, Vicky Andrews, Gail Myers PLAN ACT SEQUENCE, but this may be fazed Jaffe, Vicki McMannon, Crystal Melto, Diane out as PARC is integrated.