Patrick Roche - 21 

"I wanna be Spiderman or my dad. They're kinda the same." This is just too sad.

"Like if he could make everything look blurry id somehow look straight" that hit me so hard

Some of these poems feel like a punch to the gut and i cant tell if i love it or hate it but its addicting

"Like maybe if he makes everything else seem blurry, I'll look straight" right in the feels!

One of the best things about this poem is how his facial expressions change in an instant. Amazing.

the way he reversed the order of telling his story really pulled up how he saw things as he got older, damn i feel for the guy

My favourite part is that at the end after he finishes everyone just starts shouting "OOHH!!!!!!!!" Powerful stuff.

"I wanna be spiderman or my dad they're kinda same" this line brought me to tears :(

THE ONE WHO FUCKING SCREAMED AT THE END IS M E

Incredibly moving, touching, heartfelt, creative and resonating. So much said and learned in a few minutes

it’s so powerful how he progressively looks happier as he gets younger and doesn’t know how his father is an alcoholic. also the applause at the end made me so happy because he totally fucking deserved all of it.

Maybe if he could make everything else blurry somehow id look straight. That was so amazing. This whole poem is fantastic. It has so much meaning and it is so detailed

Patrick has a gift

I cried.

I have never gotten through this whole poem without crying. The innocence seeping back into his worldview as he progressively climbs backwards in age is so heartbreaking after already acknowledging all the tragedies he had faced in adulthood. This is brilliant

This poem has stayed in my head rent free since 2014

For all y'all haters. Saying someone can't be sad about something because others have it worse is like saying someone can't be happy about something because others have it better.

64..."Blown away by a young man and his poem, did not see that coming.. 63... made it this far without much poetry or art 62... realized how versatile we humans are as I contemplated learning how to draw or paint. 61... feeling totally inadequate by comparison, realizing that by the time Mozart was MY age, he had been DEAD for twenty-six years! 60... if I could see the future, I'd look forward to turning 64 and hearing that poem... I'd better make a mental note, to thank that poet for touching my heart. Sorry, that's enough of my pseudo-poetry, no disrespect intended.... You're the only real poet here! Thank You, you made my life richer!

the spiderman line got me tearing up

the ending always gives me chills.

When he starts to count and then says "I want to be Spider-Man... or my dad. They're kinda the same", that part always makes me cry. It's been years since I watched this video over and over again and I keep crying at the same exact second.

The "OOOOOO" AT THE END SCARED ME SO MUCH I THOUGHT I WAS WATCHING SUPA HOT FIRE

this was my first slam poetry video I ever saw. thank you 8 grade English. now I'm in 10 grade and I love poetry.

I've seen this a dozen times or more. Each time I find more nuance, understand the metaphors better, gain new appreciation. But one thing does not change, and that is the incredible emotional blows he lands with every carefully chosen phrase. At the end I am inevitably weeping.

I get goosebumps every time

this. i started crying at 20.

I come back and revisit this occasionally. It makes me tear up every single time. As a sober father myself, my greatest wish is that my children never have to see me drink or use again.

Hi, Patrick. I'm also Patrick. Alcoholic dads aren't fun.

How can anyone criticize this, he is spilling his heart out to all of us. This is art, I don't care if this is a "poem" or if its a "story," its nothing less than art. If he decides to portray his feelings through writing, that is his way of expressing himself. I think its amazing, that he can have the strength to share with us something so personal. I know what its like to have an alcoholic parent.

I swear I shouted louder than the guy at the end of this video.

That was incredible!! subscribed after watching this video.

If you could see my face right now.

All the people saying they don't get the poem, or they don't like the words, OBVIOUSLY have not had to live with an alcoholic guardian

if you are in the comments talking about how he is gay, something he spent 3 seconds on, youve completely missed the point of this beautifully composed poem.

this made me remember one post said "Here's to girl who their dad broke their heart before any guys could"

Because I don't feel like posting this in reply to hundreds of the comments on this video: Do not compare pain. People all feel things differently. Just because someone's hardships are "worse" than someone else's, it doesn't mean they felt more pain or that the other person's pain is unjustified or invalid. Saying he can't talk about his pain because others have it worse is like saying he can't express joy because others have it better.

For all those comments saying his life isn't that hard and he needs to stop complaining, you need to learn. Poetry, music, art - these are outlets for emotions. He is expressing his pain through a poem he wrote. It is HIS. His life, his pain, his words. Why you feel you have any power or say in how he should feel is actually completely baffling. Maybe your life has been 'harder', it's not a competition. This poem is moving and inspiring. Patrick Roche you are incredible, and your talent and eloquence will ensure that you do not grow up to be anything like your father. Thank you for sharing your heart and poem. I am so glad this has gone viral. Sending lots of love from Ireland x

Honestly, the youtube comments section is the only thing that makes me wish the internet never existed. So much stupidity, anger, and ignorance. Yes, the kids life is not as hard as others. Yes, some people may not think this is well written. Yes, some people may not think this is poetry. But you know what? He had the balls to stand up in front of the world and speak his mind, tell his story, and try to let other people know that the things they feel and experience are shared by others. For all of you keyboard happy trolls that feel so safe in the comfort of your own bed on your laptop that your parents probably bought for you, I say this. Why can't you do what he did?

This kid's smile is adorable. I also love how he seems to get happier when he explains the happier parts of his life. Like he feels the real emotion. He is not faking it.

Remind me to never read youtube comments again, they just ruin the video

went over this poem during a workshop. just wanted to point out how he starts at age 21. wanna know what age 21 also is? the legal drinking age. a lot of us didn’t get that at first, but it added a lot to the poem after we realized it. thought i’d share!

21 is the legal drinking age... "I wonder if my mother wondered, as so many mothers do, if her baby boy would grow up to be just like his father." Oh my god.

Wow, this was a very powerful poem :O

Is it ok if I cry?

Reading the comments, it amazes me because I went to school with him since elementary school. Always knew he was destined for great things :D

That hit me, hard.

I started balling at 15. Holy shit this was powerful.

poetry goals right here. that was incredible, like i literally have no words.

I've hardly in my life been able to pick a single favorite of anything- song, artist, movie, book.. and I can't say that Patrick is my favorite poet because there are so many amazing ones that it's impossible to pick. What I can say is whenever I see him in my subscription feed or the suggestion bar, anywhere really, I ALWAYS click on it because he's so incredibly amazing at what he does with this art form. His poems are without question some of the best I've ever heard, dense in meaning, emotion, creativity, power, and just about every good quality a poem can have. They also mean a lot to me personally. I'm just really appreciative of Patrick and his poetry, and I'm so glad I've come across it through this channel.

WHY IS PATRICK ROCHE SO TALENTED. LITERALLY SEARCHED FOR ALL THE VIDS HE'S IN AND REWATCHED LIKE ALL OF THEM

I go back, over and over again, and listen to this. By far one of the best poems ever written. And how it hurts.

that last line left my heart *pounding*

this is literally the best thing i have ever heard

Props to the guy for having the balls to do something like this infront of what sounded like people his age/at his school. I know a lot of "cool" or "popular" guys that would squirm at the thought of doing something like this.

1:57 is where you lost me. This made me cry so much :'(

For the people saying its not poetry? Look up the definition of poetry first. To the poeple saying it sucked or a waste, this was a fantastic poem. I wish you guys had properly working ears to hear it.

Very moving. To lose your father at such a young age and then struggle with blaming yourself or accepting your parents fate as brought on by their own ignorance and prejudice (which is a struggle in itself to accept) is tragic. Some of of the comments on here were left by real fucking assholes.

This hit me really hard. I have a mother who's an alcoholic. She was a pretty a darn good parent, but during the past couple of years she started to gain some pretty destructive tendencies (both for herself and our family). So, last December, my father told me and my siblings some of the truth of what she was going through and said that for the sake of the family he was going to file for divorce. We were all really shaken up, but we understood it was for the better. A couple months later my dad posed the request and my mom just...left. No goodbyes or information where she was going, just ran away. I have no idea where she is, what she's doing or if she even has a roof over her head. The only form of contact I've had with her was a very brief text last March. This piece really makes me hope that she doesn't end up like Patrick's dad, but I suppose hoping is all I'm really able to do. Regardless, thank you Patrick. You're an outstanding poet who created something that really hits home for me. I wish you nothing but success.

Nah because I will always say poetry is organized emotion. The fact that he reversed it so you have the idea of his father's passing the whole time took a lot of pre-mediated thought, trial & error and so much agony I couldn't even begin to imagine how it was like. Every line, every word, every syllable so intentional and heavy that I am beyond surprised that someone can even manage to bear this much pain, organize it, and say it aloud for strangers to hear. I use to think I could never speak let alone write but to be able to harness strength like this I admirable. Bless your soul Patrick...

the way his story telling can be so disturbing but still precious. it’s an uncomfortable form of beautiful.

wow!!!! MY FAVOURITE POEM BY MR PATRICK ROCHE. WOW.

To that person who said that Patrick is one of her favorite poets, in one of the comments here in RU-vid, thank you.

I think I just held my breath for 2 minutes and 48 seconds.

watching this a year later and still cried at the end.

I'm speechless. This is so beautiful. Congratulations on being so brave and sharing your story in such a special way.

I'm a 59 year old, gay, recovering, adoptee, psychotherapist and community worker who lives with lupus and AIDS. I carefully screen everything I take in these days. Every word of Mr. Roche's work struck a chord with me. Thank you so much.

Patrick is my absolute favorite. I have to try harder than I do for any other poetry not to cry, but it doesn't work very well. I wish I could hear more from him.

For those of us who were their parents best friends as little kids but grew to ne their worst enemies. This hits so hard...

Incredible. Went into this one without reading the comments prior and was not disappointed. Very talented guy.

Great performance... wow. Just discovered this channel, I love it so, so much! I wanna stay up and watch it all yet I don't want to watch any more for fear of running out of inspirational, moving videos for the future.

Fantastic!

this still makes me tear up after so many years

The amount of people who completely missed the point of this is ridiculously high...... -_-

The people who don't "like" or "understand" this have their own opinion..but this was the most powerful poem I've ever heard in my life. I fucking hate poetry almost as much as I hate politics but this was really breathtaking.

I am such a dork, I'm just in my room watching all these videos and clapping like a madwoman. this channel is brilliant!!!

I've stumbled upon this poem years ago. every now and then it pops up in my mind, I go listen and still cry every fkn time. such a good poem!

Was not expecting this when I clicked on the video, pretty mad stuff, hope he stays strong!

You young people, 21 and below, will one day realize that all of this time before you are able to 'do for yourself' is random and uncontrolled and no matter 'how bad it was or compared to others' your past does not define you. It is simply an uncontrolled beginning stage of life that DOES NOT define you. It shapes you but you begin to have choices of your own that also lead to consequences of their own. Learn to accept that and move onto success and failures(stop letting failures ruin you or give you excuses to hold you back, they are the most powerful type of learning tool there is, embrace failure to enhance success). You have a very tough world ahead of you, which I hope you can get it back on track collectively before it spirals out of control beyond the point of 'no turning back'. No matter how 'ugly' your world could've been growing up, that it just a mere piece of the true ugliness of the world that also has beauty in it if you are willing to strive for it.

That is by far the most powerful piece of spoken literature that I have ever witnessed. This young man has the ability to stir feelings & emotion into this media-dulled mind. I know he'll move mountains.

discovering this ten years later and hearing you share your experience which so deeply mirrors mine, has me feeling a little less lonely, a little less ashamed, but not a moment less of feeling it deep inside my soul. thank you for making 21.

If part of the intention of poetry is to provoke thought and emotion, and I most certainly believe it to be, then this is art. Full stop. Saying "anyone could have done it" is one of the classic and most nonsensical views pointed at almost any great work of art. As Ricky Gervais so eloquently educated Karl Pilkington: "Yeah, the point is, NOT EVERYONE DID." I felt for him.

That was really cool way to present his life. Lots of focus yet vague enough to not oversimplify his life. He didn't just complain about his life but did his life justice by sharing it. Really well done, and I hope he continues to live strong!

This poem made me weep. This is entirely the experience.. Just wow.

I'm a 38 yr old father of 4, at work watching this, and in tears...I've never been brought to tears before like this. Thanks you!

That is just incredible. Wow.

That is how I remember my father as well. We haven't spoken in almost 10 years now days. He was always so beligerantly angry when he drank, and that seemed to be the only thing he did. I look back at it now and I'm so thankful he showed me how NOT to act. I learned how to be the best father I could possibly be, by just not emulating him. Proud daddy of a son and a daughter these days who will NEVER see me give into the same demons that haunted my childhood.

Still makes me cry everytime. Beautiful.

My friend Jordan recommended this poem to me, especially after I told her I have been meaning to listen to it. I am so glad I heeded her advice.

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor...

Ughhhhhjjj.. when he says six I want to be Spiderman. I cried. I mean he used to admire his father.

mygoodnessssssss. ive been obsessed with slam poetry and stopped watching about two years ago. i come back after two years seeing my old playlist that i made and the very last sentence still sends chills down my spine.

I cry every time. It's very similar to poem I wrote my sophomore year about my own father, and probably a lot of other kids with alcoholic parents can relate. The way you remember looking up to them, the way you blame yourself, being confused about why your parents are the only ones not drinking at parties, the fights, the year or so when you think things might be changing for the better and then they don't... This piece sums it all up pretty well, and even though I don't get emotional about much, I always end up sobbing.

this is fantastic and i dont think ive felt a shiver travel that quick down my spine

I love his approach to spoken word. His Siri poem was great as well!

Patrick, this is soooo good, brilliant. You've found a way to condense that history and all of those different kinds of pain into something devastating and heart-opening. Thanks so much, and don't you ever stop writing.

I've watched this so many times, and it still gives me chills. Thank you for sharing what it's like to live with an alcoholic parent. Just wow

Very powerful yet emotional.

First time I heard this poem back in 2014, I got goosebumps. It’s 2019... still have goosebumps. Such an amazing poem!!!

Too much feels! I don't know whether to cry or give this man a hug. Maybe both. Thanks for posting this!

Simply incredible. This, and the ode to the women on long Island are some of the greatest spoken word poems I've ever heard. Chills everytime