Kevin Kantor - Honest Confessions on Letting Go

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  • čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
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    Kevin Kantor, performing at CUPSI 2014 in Boulder, CO.
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    Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.
    We seek to showcase the power and diversity of voices in our community. By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.

Komentáře • 202

  • @smileandbreathe
    @smileandbreathe Před 8 lety +315

    "when you start to rearrange your vocabulary for someone else, replacing words like 'unhealthy' with 'compromise', you will begin to forget your own name." fuck.

  • @danihircock7335
    @danihircock7335 Před 9 lety +661

    "I've never wanted somebody to hurt and be happy so badly"

  • @auroraschnorrealis1141
    @auroraschnorrealis1141 Před 10 lety +271

    ...When you begin to rearrange your vocabulary for someone else, replacing words like "unhealthy" with "compromise" you will begin to forget your own name.
    Yes.

  • @sarahbecker4649
    @sarahbecker4649 Před 8 lety +378

    "I told *everyone* how bad the sex was..... BECAUSE IT *WAS*"
    STRAIGHT UP *SAVAGE* XD

  • @taradevaul8514
    @taradevaul8514 Před 10 lety +81

    "I've never wanted someone to hurt and be happy so badly." "I'm sorry I have yet to forget how to find you beautiful... I'm trying" These fucking sentences.. Holy cow...

  • @AilsaB123
    @AilsaB123 Před 8 lety +314

    "completely self fabricated history of something that only ever sort of was" could not relate more to this hahaha

  • @LossesCostUs
    @LossesCostUs Před 10 lety +322

    That seed and garden line was just off the hook.

  • @lindseyreese287
    @lindseyreese287 Před 8 lety +191

    "I told you I loved you. Last resort."

  • @aesop2020
    @aesop2020 Před 9 lety +137

    How can I put this eloquently? Umm "this dude is all fucking awesome and stuff"
    That works

  • @ajcalibara
    @ajcalibara Před 7 lety +35

    "You covered up everything to try to be with me. And I no longer knew what I was."
    Damn. That was me.

  • @asseater0077
    @asseater0077 Před 9 lety +332

    This poem slayed

  • @360angelface
    @360angelface Před 8 lety +80

    Omg this is my ex... I'm straight but I can relate to everything he says especially when he says "how do you tell someone that they taught you how to look at a seed and see a flower? You were blooming in another man's (woman's) garden and I feel like I'm the only one who got his hands dirty."

    • @pOlykaUlitZ1
      @pOlykaUlitZ1 Před 8 lety +2

      same! I can relate so much to this poem, especially that part

    • @sunnysodapop
      @sunnysodapop Před 7 lety

      Could you explain that..I'm kinda confused

    • @noreality2401
      @noreality2401 Před 7 lety +6

      sunnysodapop -anything learned in a previous relationship is credited to an ex. in this case...hes just saying his efforts are now benefiting someone else...the new lover of the ex

    • @GagandeepSingh-rq6oo
      @GagandeepSingh-rq6oo Před 6 lety

      lauren davis bjhgh guy uh

    • @Ava-fl2cz
      @Ava-fl2cz Před 3 lety +1

      @@noreality2401 Thank you so much! I was trying to figure it out.

  • @Claire24mt
    @Claire24mt Před 7 lety +210

    Transcript:
    Honest confessions on falling in and out of love with a confused, 20-something, semi-closeted gay man
    or
    I can usually tell in the first fifteen minutes if something is gonna work out for the long haul, so why did I ever bother
    or
    A Beginner's Guide to crying publicly at parties over a completely self-fabricated history of something that only ever sort-of was
    or
    How to Let Go
    One:
    Last Halloween Britney Melendez dressed up as Dora the Explorer
    and got so drunk that she stood on a chair and shouted
    ''How many shots has Dora had? OCHO! Dora tiene ocho shots!''
    Five minutes later, you were making out with drunk Dora in the middle of the living room
    and in that moment, for some reason I knew you had to be mine.
    Two:
    I totally watched Django Unchained without you over winter break, even though I promised you I wouldn't,
    and then pretended to be watching it for the first time on our date.
    That was the only time that I ever lied to you.
    Which for me is a personal best.
    Three:
    I have never found you sexier than when you talk about German filmmakers,
    struggle to ice-skate,
    or tell me that I am wrong.
    Four:
    I have recurring dreams about deep-cleaning your apartment.
    Five:
    The first time that you told me I cannot stay the night because your roommate might come home and see me,
    I should have left you.
    Not out of selfishness or anger, but because when you begin to rearrange your vocabulary for someone else,
    replacing words like 'unhealthy' with 'compromise',
    you will begin to forget your own name.
    Six:
    You called me 'baby' like flicking on a light switch.
    Something quick and easy that you knew you could do to brighten up the room.
    But I am sick of sleeping with the lights on,
    because you were afraid of the monster in your closet
    and I was afraid that it had already climbed into the bed with us.
    Or that I had been the monster all along.
    Seven:
    I told everyone how bad the sex was.
    Because it was.
    Eight:
    I have thought about you during sex with other people.
    Nine:
    I've never wanted someone to hurt and be happy so badly.
    Ten:
    I told you I loved you.
    Last resort.
    I told you I loved you, like a bomb shelter. Something to hide in after the fallout.
    But we would always be hungrier than our rations would allow.
    Eleven:
    How do you tell someone that they taught you how to look at a seed and see a flower?
    You are blooming in another man's garden and I feel like I'm the only one who got his hands dirty.
    When he bites into your roots, he will taste my rainwater.
    When he strips you naked, he will pause between each article of clothing, stop and say 'How beautiful.'
    Twelve:
    I'm sorry I've not yet forgotten how to find you beautiful.
    Thirteen:
    I'm trying.
    Fourteen:
    For Valentine's Day you got me an eggplant.
    I don't really remember the significance, only that you covered the entire thing with silver sharpie, so that you could write little messages in black which wouldn't show on the purple, when you could've just written the messages in silver.
    When you gifted it to me, I didn't even realise what it was, because, well, eggplants are purple.
    You covered up everything to try to be with me.
    And I no longer knew what I was.

    • @Claire24mt
      @Claire24mt Před 7 lety +1

      I just saw someone had done a transcript before but it was buried in the comments. Facepalm.
      ANYWAY I loved this way too much so here's another slightly differently structured transcript ha

    • @vellaJuliana
      @vellaJuliana Před 7 lety +1

      thank you for doing this!

    • @blueturtle3623
      @blueturtle3623 Před 6 lety

      Thank you so much! I love Kevin but im HoH!!!

    • @anxhelo8649
      @anxhelo8649 Před 3 lety

      thank you!!

  • @SincerelyBluejay
    @SincerelyBluejay Před 8 lety +42

    Incredible Especially the part about "baby" being a way to light up the room and monsters already in bed with your relationship.
    Absolutely incredible.

  • @ThePerksOfBeingKiall
    @ThePerksOfBeingKiall Před 10 lety +25

    This is so great an full of emotion. My favorite line: "How do you tell someone they taught you how to look at a seed and see a flower?" So beautiful.

  • @SimplyMayaBeauty
    @SimplyMayaBeauty Před 10 lety +295

    Such raw emotions. You guys pick the best poems to upload. And your timing is kind of amazing too.

  • @rhaight78
    @rhaight78 Před 7 lety +13

    "You covered up everything to try to be with me, and I no longer knew what I was."
    This. So much, this.

  • @Lauryn_kill
    @Lauryn_kill Před 10 lety +25

    He said every feeling a boy made me feel

  • @JadeAlexOfficial
    @JadeAlexOfficial Před 8 lety +10

    "I have reoccurring dreams about deep cleaning your apartment"
    I LOVE THIS LINE

  • @srayhappy
    @srayhappy Před 10 lety +13

    This is one of the most raw wll crafted poems i've ever heard.

  • @stephanieforcier7289
    @stephanieforcier7289 Před 9 lety +12

    it's kinda sad that i've watched this so many times, i can almost recite it word for word. this is one of my favourite poems of Button Poetry.

  • @kellymoran7644
    @kellymoran7644 Před 9 lety +72

    "I told everyone how bad the sex was...because it was"
    Ohh, burn

  • @minerva4711
    @minerva4711 Před 8 lety +2

    "I'm sorry I have not forgotten how to find you beautiful.... 13, I'm trying." Wow. That hit home. I listen to his poems almost daily... they're so great.

  • @lightblueboi
    @lightblueboi Před 9 lety +11

    19 people have covered everything up and forgotten who they were.

  • @alishasharma8332
    @alishasharma8332 Před 10 lety +6

    His poetry is so amazing, as is his method of conveying it- fast and simple but col and hard cutting. Also- he is so beautiful holy hell inside and out

  • @LossesCostUs
    @LossesCostUs Před 10 lety +33

    The counting element doesn't seem to get old in these poetry pieces! I loved it in Alex Dang's, Hieu Nguyen's, Ariana Brown's, Patrick Roche's, Rachel Wiley's, and this! (naming others to give you some suggestions to check out from Button Poetry videos!) Any other suggestions?

    • @nipzxoxoxo
      @nipzxoxoxo Před 10 lety +33

      rudy francisco - scars. I cried like a baby i swear.

    • @curtisxmeyer4819
      @curtisxmeyer4819 Před 10 lety +2

      Numbered sections in poems are called cantos.
      Shameless plug: If you want a poem with cantos, you should CZcams search Curtis X Meyer's "7 Grains of Salt."

    • @LossesCostUs
      @LossesCostUs Před 10 lety

      Thanks! The more you learn :3

    • @totomlee93
      @totomlee93 Před 10 lety +5

      Tonya Ingram- Thirteen

    • @HolyKoreanPanda
      @HolyKoreanPanda Před 10 lety

      Guante - REACH

  • @AriadnaBalderrama
    @AriadnaBalderrama Před 6 lety +3

    "...because when you begin to rearrange your vocabulary for someone else, replacing words like 'unhealthy' with 'compromise,' you will begin to forget your own name." 😭😭

  • @tomtom9889
    @tomtom9889 Před 10 lety +33

    Im not sure if it's a thing in slam poetry, but the numbers really sounds like what Alex Dang did in "Times i've been mistaken for a girl".

  • @rachelclere5364
    @rachelclere5364 Před 10 lety +9

    I like the counting of each new thing and how it still pertains to the subject!

  • @spicyjanko8648
    @spicyjanko8648 Před 9 lety +49

    You covered everything up to be with me and I forgot who I was.

  • @gremlingrandparent
    @gremlingrandparent Před 10 lety +18

    god he is perfect.

  • @dahiana1113
    @dahiana1113 Před 10 lety +8

    This is seriously one of my favorite poems

  • @kaleb345
    @kaleb345 Před 9 lety +6

    This is my favourite poem on Button Poetry; I watch it all the time.

  • @nicolegil19
    @nicolegil19 Před 8 lety +6

    When a poem is lit AF🔥🔥🔥

  • @allyssajolin4328
    @allyssajolin4328 Před 10 lety +13

    He reminds me of Zachary Quinto's character on AHS: Murder House.

  • @petyatodorova4949
    @petyatodorova4949 Před 5 lety +1

    I've watched a lot of slam poetry and this is still my favorite poem ever.

  • @vadnoviice
    @vadnoviice Před 7 lety +2

    "I'm sorry I haven't forgotten how to find you beautiful"

  • @21redsox21
    @21redsox21 Před 8 lety +1

    Number 9 is probably one of the realest things ive ever heard. Seriously.

  • @djangodjang7569
    @djangodjang7569 Před 10 lety +5

    this is so gooooood. this guy is fresh and original
    give him a pat on the back
    this channel should do more promotion
    it really reflects passion and emotion (see what i did there)
    im a 15 yr old boy and i find this channel amazing, poetry is becoming more popular and i know a wide variety of people will enjoy this

  • @gblanco2073
    @gblanco2073 Před 8 lety

    every time I get on CZcams I listen to this. never heard a Poem that's given me chills until I listened to this..definitely one of my favorites.

  • @Parasaurolophusful
    @Parasaurolophusful Před 10 lety +7

    You can totally tell he and Bianca Phipps are from the same school. They got the exact same cadence and inflection patterns.

  • @luanders5232
    @luanders5232 Před 7 lety +3

    I love this. Probably watched this 50 times already.

  • @MultiCharliestar
    @MultiCharliestar Před 10 lety +27

    That last line tho

  • @danaak8006
    @danaak8006 Před 2 lety

    Can we appreciate how this starts with how he wanted to get closer to that person and ends with pain and memories

  • @noreality2401
    @noreality2401 Před 7 lety +1

    when Kevin says ...flicking on a light switch...he reminds me of Judd Nelson in breakfast club. great job! you have ample stage presence, sir!

  • @milanjain8739
    @milanjain8739 Před 7 lety +1

    Speechless.

  • @plahntsx9436
    @plahntsx9436 Před 10 lety +5

    this was insanely accurate i love it

  • @collybenjamin5246
    @collybenjamin5246 Před 8 lety

    Can I just....like keep this poem forever? Ugh. I love it so fucking much. Kevin, you are a God.

  • @lostgypsygurl
    @lostgypsygurl Před 5 lety

    I am straight but this poem hit me so hard in the heart. I am trying to nurse a broken heart over someone who was never my boyfriend but when he told me we can't be together because it will not be practical it hurt like it was a break up. It hurts like it is a break up. But I never told him I love him. In this poem he said "i told you I loved you, last resort" that's when it hit me. I never told him I loved him even as a last resort because I didn't have the courage to break my heart even more as it already is.

  • @PutBoxOnMe
    @PutBoxOnMe Před 5 lety

    “I told everyone how bad the sex was, because it was” what a fucking mood, I relate to this poem so much, my ex girlfriend was months ago and it was only eight months but she’s ruined me for other people because she was so toxic and manipulative and confusing and I’m terrified to tell the girl who I’m “talking” to this because I hate going into what could be a good thing broken because it’s basically asking her to fix me and I don’t want that to be her responsibility

  • @beckyaa100
    @beckyaa100 Před 9 lety

    Only just found out about this guy today. He just makes me speechless.

  • @valleymmm
    @valleymmm Před 7 lety +1

    This is the most beautiful thing. I can relate but I think everyone can relate tbh it's not a gay or straight guy or girl it's just beautiful.

  • @the5ofclubscover
    @the5ofclubscover Před 10 lety +2

    Ooh... Right in the emotions.

  • @priscilaperson3784
    @priscilaperson3784 Před 10 lety +7

    I love this poem :)

  • @mkru06
    @mkru06 Před 9 lety +3

    #11!!! This poem hits home.

  • @daydreamin4
    @daydreamin4 Před 10 lety +1

    Damn. All the feels.

  • @Ashybearification
    @Ashybearification Před 8 lety

    Holy CRAP! This guy ROCKS!

  • @katokebofhe738
    @katokebofhe738 Před 3 lety +1

    Incredible, incredible

  • @literarycoc00n
    @literarycoc00n Před 8 lety +4

    Wow. This was a great piece and great performance! Kevin you rock!! I can't help but think of Tyler Oakley when I first watched this clip (if you've read his book, you will understand).

  • @ab-by7dy
    @ab-by7dy Před 3 lety

    I hope this man is living his best life rn

  • @Cornbeneathcanada
    @Cornbeneathcanada Před 10 lety +3

    I needed this right now

  • @avu2888
    @avu2888 Před 5 lety

    "You are blooming in another man’s garden and I feel like I am the only one who got his hands dirty." I've NEVER felt a line harder than that one.

  • @rogansullivan
    @rogansullivan Před 9 lety

    This poem speaks to me on so many levels.

  • @giaannstormshumaker5106

    HIS VOICE .Amazing.

  • @khushbu_luhar
    @khushbu_luhar Před 6 lety

    "I have never wanted somebody to be hurt and be happy so badly." Damn

  • @jessalynnellis9712
    @jessalynnellis9712 Před 9 lety

    that ending was really powerful.

  • @jennifereustaquio2992
    @jennifereustaquio2992 Před 7 lety

    This kind of breaks my heart every single time.

  • @apoorvajain
    @apoorvajain Před 9 lety

    Super. Just amazing. I found out about this guy just today and was absolutely amazed at his elaborate performance skills and simple language

  • @vick2218
    @vick2218 Před 10 lety

    i watch this literally everyday

  • @destinyheath6583
    @destinyheath6583 Před 5 lety

    He sounds like Neil holborn to me! I love Kevin. He’s such a good poet!

  • @AyeYoCaptainAriana
    @AyeYoCaptainAriana Před 8 lety

    That was so strong from start to finish. Holy shit.

  • @abby2109
    @abby2109 Před 10 lety

    This is legitimately perfection

  • @caffeinatednation8885
    @caffeinatednation8885 Před 8 lety

    that deep clean your apartment line... nice!

  • @huntermeek7450
    @huntermeek7450 Před 7 lety

    THAT WAS SO POWERFUL

  • @e.x.nihilo
    @e.x.nihilo Před 9 lety

    He spits fire

  • @Buxombeauty3
    @Buxombeauty3 Před 7 lety

    Screaming! I love him!!!!

  • @TheyCallMeHughes
    @TheyCallMeHughes Před 10 lety +4

    amazing

  • @KafkasKarma
    @KafkasKarma Před 6 lety

    God, I love the itensity

  • @MaddyLaLaLove
    @MaddyLaLaLove Před 7 lety

    "You covered up everything to be with me, I no longer knew who I was" 😢😢😢😢

  • @sunkissedangel
    @sunkissedangel Před 7 lety

    My type of poems!!!

  • @janicerobinson2225
    @janicerobinson2225 Před 7 lety

    the boy is a monster! So dope dude

  • @LeviBessette
    @LeviBessette Před 7 lety +1

    you are so amazing.. thank you

  • @Checkersss
    @Checkersss Před 10 lety

    I LOVE THIS.

  • @Nillowo
    @Nillowo Před 6 lety

    “I’m sorry I’ve not yet forgotten how to find you beautiful... I’m trying...”

  • @SomeCallMeWeird
    @SomeCallMeWeird Před 10 lety

    Wow.
    Just... wow.

  • @genuineinterest
    @genuineinterest Před 7 lety

    AMAZING.

  • @emilyson5075
    @emilyson5075 Před 10 lety

    I love this so much

  • @anastasialynn6332
    @anastasialynn6332 Před 9 lety

    Stunningly beautiful and full of truth. Thank you.

  • @ashleycole6498
    @ashleycole6498 Před 5 lety

    So beautiful

  • @MrPhunkylizard
    @MrPhunkylizard Před 10 lety

    That's amazing, simply amazing.

  • @aidenrivers1953
    @aidenrivers1953 Před 10 lety +1

    Beautiful

  • @kristinreale8617
    @kristinreale8617 Před 8 lety

    love love love love

  • @meera648
    @meera648 Před 10 lety

    I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

  • @amazingly_bookish
    @amazingly_bookish Před 5 lety

    Omg, you are a beautiful, talented gift! ❤

  • @fatimakhanshahid
    @fatimakhanshahid Před 5 lety

    Oh my god I love this.

  • @natalie-vh2zl
    @natalie-vh2zl Před 3 lety

    “I’m sorry I have not yet forgotten how to find you beautiful” fuck.

  • @stanleyjensen1950
    @stanleyjensen1950 Před 9 lety

    Awesome delivery...

  • @pribadyo
    @pribadyo Před 4 lety

    this hits

  • @christinathomas7639
    @christinathomas7639 Před 10 lety

    Omggg so beautiful

  • @slenderbass0
    @slenderbass0 Před 10 lety

    Amazing.