Follow Maia on Instagram @maiamayor !!!! Support Maia and the Get Lit players, buy our book: simonandschuster.com/books/Get-Lit-Rising/ "Some conversations can change the world." See the classic: • Iara Nemirovsky // "An... .
When the poem started I was like "this sounds like my mom" and I was laughing a little but then it went on and on and at the end I was crying and saying "this sounds like my mom"
I started crying at the part where she started talking about biting her nails, I bite my nails and everybody tells me to stop but I can’t. Maybe if they where less rude to me, maybe I could stop.
@@edwardfights4900 wtf is wrong with you. she suffered emotional abuse. i was never a pothead, i always tried to obey. did that stop my father from being disappointed in me and run off to another family? no! i’m not perfect but no one ever is.
Everyone is relating to this as something they heard from their parents but for me, it's something that voice in my head reminds me every once in a while.
Slesha Panthee yes, same here. that voice or noise in the back of my head that screams perfection and counts all my imperfections. but then remember, those imperfections are what makes you you, those quirks make me me.
When she says "you disappoint me Maya" I got chills, you can see the tears well up in her eyes Edit: I love when people reply to this comment or like it because it brings me back to this video that is absolutely beautiful. I made this comment four years ago and have watched this hundreds of times and every time is just as impactful
Maia is far more than beautiful... she's... perfect. ("I love all her curves and all her edges; all her perfect imperfections..." John Legend, "All of Me."). The flaws are the beautiful part. Flawless is so... boring. I suppose that makes me the most beautiful person in the world... because I am massively flawed! :) Maia is so incredibly magnetic - you just want to watch her and listen to her; to empathize with her. Incredibly well-delivered poetry, with devastating depth and breadth!
@@inessa5923 Sure she is - you missed the entire point of my comment: "perfect imperfections;" meaning I realize she has flaws; but, to the person who admires her, those are "perfect IMPERFECTIONS" -- i.e. "flaws." To summarize: she is "perfectly imperfect;" i.e., she is flawed. And to me, that is 'perfect.' Anyone who is flawed, is perfect in the eyes of one who admires them and loves that person's imperfections.
Parents voices become the voice their child hears in the back of their head. Adults need to choose whether to have that voice be negative and tear down our feelings or to be positive and build up their child. Even when we mess up. That’s when it’s most important.
When my parents had divorced, my mom used to call me “ a liar like your dad” as well as some stuff she used to call my dad but when I finally broke down crying she complained to her mom about it: saying “I don’t understand why she’s crying.”
Yes, its not enough not to argue, its not enough to agree and do as she says. "Without making a face". Well im sorry i cant control my face, i was trying to keep it neutral
They'll break me. With words and with fists, I don't really think there is much of a difference. Fists bruise the skin, words bruise the soul. All I wish is to be free, but that won't come until I'm 18. But it's not a matter of surviving, it's a matter of living. I'm trying to do the right things, say the right stuff, and be the right person. I can't be the right person without losing myself, but I think I already have. My name is Lucy and I am completely worthless.
i showed this to my grandma and she said “she probably had a good mom, but she just didn’t like her mom” and ppl wonder why we don’t get along with our elders. they’ll never admit they’re wrong
@@sprogg2001 I hope that everyone who watches this video saves this poem and raises their daughters the exact opposite of it because the parent in this poem is toxic and horrible.
It's sad how many of us relate to this poem so much, sure opens your eyes how messed up the things your parents feed your brain are. Just be perfect they say, but perfection doesn't relate to humanity. Perfect doesn't exist.
they tell you to be perfect??? shit..mine fought all the time with each other and never noticed me...but said good grades..your doing fine...and went back to fighting. fighting fighting,,,,until one of them died and the other had no one to fight with and so she waits for one of us to visit...and then she fights fights fights. I cant relate to this poem but I liked it.
Idk if you'll ever see this but I want you to know I listen to this almost weekly as a mother. It really helps me stay conscious of how I speak to and criticize or encourage my kids.
people who have stuffed down their own feelings can't cope when other people talk about theirs. That is also why people can't cope with and try to shut off other people's tears. It triggers unresolved and uncried tears of their own which is incredibly painful for them
This is very much like what people tell me: not to write my books, that my clothes are on a bed like my lack of morals, that I'm rebellious and need to be obedient, that I'm not interesting enough, it reflects real life to a tee, this is art!
"You disappoint me Maia" It's amazing how much power words hold and how they can hurt worst than the wound from a bullet. My mom never said that to me but if she should do so one day my heart would break.
I thought that i was overreacting when i heard the same things from my mother always telling myself that it came from a place of love, thats what my siblings tell me. But the more i look at it the more i realize how smothering a flame with "love" wont help it grow, it will only die out slowly.
I see this in two ways: One: Parents. They always want you to do just as they say, because they know best. Sometimes they do. Two: Yourself. We all want to be perfect, liked, noticed. You can poison yourself with these thoughts. Stay Strong.
I see it in a different perspective of 'yourself'. The positive one. It is 'herself' trying to tell herself to be better. It is herself trying her to save her from the things which unconsciously 'destroy' her. It is her 'sane, mature-self' trying to improve her. It is about self-love I suppose, when you love yourself, when you are 'aware' that you have to love yourself, you won't let you feel like shit. You won't let your teeth decayed, let your life dull dan boring, let you eat crap, constantly feel disappointed, and so on. I assume it is her inner self trying to 'force' her just to save her. It is the way she's trying to love herself. It is beautiful, tho. Not all people born realized that they have to love themselves. Sometimes, they have to go through hell and shit and realize afterward that 'ok, my life is a mess, I don't like this shit, I have to change'. I do respect her, it is tough to love yourself.
I do too! The tiredness in the voice from constant repeating and repeating and repeating and not being heard does result in harshness at times, and the story always has two sides. Still, it's a reminder to parents words, however meant, are heard differently when processex by a child. She was great at delivering this. ❤️
Definitely saw this coming from herself/ourselves, even with a mother that treated me this way. And then it dons on me why I would talk to myself this way.
When she said "you disappoint me...", the way her voice waivered and eyes welled, her voice was literally thick with emotion. It was absolutely incredible to hear the hurtful words of a mother yet in the emotion of a child filled with grief. That was outstanding.
Out of all of the beautiful poems I've watched, this has got to me one of the best. Her tone or voice and the way she caries every single words can send chills to your body.
I remembered being obsessed with this when I was in grade 10. I'm a freshman in college now, I still am obsessed with this... practically memorised every line already. !! This is such great art.
This is so great and emotional The lines "you can't be a rebel, you're not interesting enough" and "stop writing, your life is not a book" really hit home... It's really amazing and I cried like I haven't in a while💕😭
At first I thought this poem was talking to herself but the more I listened the more I realized it was her parents and it's incredible to write a poem like that
I was literally saying all this out loud in my room because I’ve watched it so many times I know the hole beautiful piece and my mum literally said- can you stop you are annoying me just go do your homework like a normal child would do just learn your presentation instead of this rambling you do... and I wasn’t even shocked...
This poem is deep as the ocean It describes the mental abuse that the mother unknowingly does to her child but the poem also reflects the hardships that the mother goes through to give her child a better living it reflects that the mother is frustrated and the child just wants to write but this world is too hard to make a living from just writing books The child is exhausted and depressed because of her mother's verbal abuse but the mother had also left her dreams behind to give her child a better life It is so fucking deep ,now I'm crying 😭
Ît was over when she said “You disappointing me.” I cried I never cry But this time I cried because nearly everything she said and so much more cruel stuff person my mum But hey always stay positiv
This is a written transcript of "Perfect" by Maya Mayor. This is a public service, and I am in no way claiming any association with this artist, this RU-vid video, or this RU-vid channel. Forgive how long it is, but this is how that I write lyrics for my spoken word poetry videos about mental health awareness and various other topics on my own RU-vid channel. Enjoy! 💓 "- Is there something wrong with you? -A loose screw or two that ruined your ability to function? - And why are you always so tired, - Your life uninspired and small. - All you do is sprawl on the couch with outstretched limbs, - Like a sloth in slow motion. - Where is your devotion to succeed? -Did it drift out the window with the smoke from your weed? - Do I have to force-feed you discipline until you finally concede? -I cook and I clean, - And I don't stop until the soles of my feet bleed, but I'm fine. - I'm perfect. - Be perfect. - Be like me. - Stop wearing those god awful ripped pants - And lipstick like a whore with double D implants. - You only get one chance, - Stop acting like a cat with 9 lives left. - Stop committing yourself to songs and stories and spoken slam bullshit - In a world where degrees and PhDs impede the need for poetry - And stop chewing on your nails. - No wonder you've never attracted any males. - Why do you do that? - Do you like the taste? - Are they sweet? -You can't eat sweets, - You're ruining your teeth, - Like you're ruining your life. - My teeth are perfect. - Clean and pristine, - They gleam like the golden halo above my perfectly conditioned head. -I don't need sugar. -I am above sugar. - Why are you down here? - Why are you down here when you should be up there - With the ones with a promising career, - Who listen when information goes in one ear and doesn't come out the other. -You'll never be up here. - You act as if the act of listening is a crime, - Or you would've heard me the 666th time. -I told you to stop chewing on your nails - Like a goddamned piece of trash. - You have to be perfect. - Be perfect like me. -I get up at 5 in the morning every day, -I start my day in the same way: - Worried that I'll collapse as my bones start to decay from cleaning up your scraps. - Why is your room such a mess. - The clothes go into the hamper, - Not displayed on your bed like your lack of morals. - Not littered on the floor collecting more dust than my withered expectations. - You disregard my rules with stubborn contempt - And a substandard attempt to teenage rebellion, - But you can't be a rebel. - You're not interesting enough. - You need to obey and say okay with a smile on your less than average face. - You need to try harder, - Make it wider, - Why don't you know how to smile? - You disappoint me. - You never appreciate what I do for you. - You never try to be a winner, - And you never eat your dinner. - You never eat your dinner I consistently provide for you - As I constantly remind you of the life I set aside for you. - That meal doesn't pay for itself, - I don't care if it's ideal, - Stop telling me how you feel. - You need to eat it. - Eat it all, - Eat at a reasonable time with a glass of milk. - You need milk. - You need calcium, - Like thou need a catalyst for growth. - You'll never grow to be tall. - Be tall like me. -I drink my milk. - Drink your fucking milk. - Be tall. - Be perfect. - Be perfect like me. - You need to pay attention. - Stop daydreaming. - Stop staring at the ceiling as if you're one redeeming quality is hidden and plastered. - You need to organize your life. -Your life is a disaster just like your room. -Just like your teeth. - just like your future, - Which will soon come to an end if you don't put down that pen. - You need to stop writing, - Your life is not a book. - Don't give me that look! - I'm just trying to help you. - I'm just trying to love you. - You have to let me love you so you can be perfect. - Be perfect. - Perfect like me."
When she said "be tall" that hit my soul..my mum always says that "you're not tall like me... you're so short...I think that you'll never be as tall as me,do something..BE TALL"
“You act like the act of listening as a crime as I tell you the six hundred and sixty-six time to stop chewing on your nails”, she references 666 subtly (or not so), calling her mother “satan”. powerful, powerful and well written poem.
3 years later, this still breaks my heart. if anything, it means more to me now because i understand it more now. i don't think parents realise how much their words influence us. i know i'm not useless but i feel like a wreck.
I can tell that every time she performs this, she has so much hurt in her heart and so much feeling toward what she has written that she can't help but cry or almost cry. I respect and appreciate that- you know it's real and extremely powerful.
I keep coming back to this poem. Years ago I learned to speak the whole poem and I will never forget it. It’s always been my favourite, it makes me feel so understood. Thank you!
Follow up on the performance: I got first place and I'm representing my class in the whole school competition, eeek! So happy! This poem is so beautiful
Those parents you never gave a hug and ask for perfection. Narcisism, parents cant stand their own failures and if they see one it reminds them of their ones. Own rage
This is raw and so emotional you can hear the pain in her voice. You see see the pain written all over her face. You can tell she tried so hard not cry. Its heart wrenching to know that parents don't understand the damage they do on their kids when they constantly spew venom from their mouths. It may be with good intentions but its still venom either way
When this video ended, I said "holy shit.." I had to put my phone down and let the words sink in. It's such a beautiful and relatable poem. I'm at loss for words, I love this so much.
I'm crying because this is so relatable. My mother is exactly like this but I'm trapped because I keep thinking that's love. I'm too young to help myself and she won't allow me to go to my dad's house. I just have to listen to her telling me to be perfect when she knows I can't change who I am as a person. This just gets me on every word.
it’s been 5 years since i did this poetry and my school. i broke down crying. i ran off stage, now i am 22. i have a child of my own and i think about that moment a lot, where everyone in my class watched my issues. i hope my son never feels like this
The fact that I memorized this by the time I was 13 says a lot. now I'm 18 and this is still my refuge when my mom makes me feel horrible about myself.
I think some of the lines sound like direct quotes from her mom and then it switches back to poetry and the transition back and forth is just amazing and fantastic