Anis Mojgani performs Shake the Dust at Brown University

[rainbowchewingum]

Incredible

[whatstheverdict]

hey reddit

[TheMePipe]

shivers every time. and this is probably the 50th time i've watched it

[automin25]

absolutely beautiful

[ultimatefightpowers]

Thank you, Anis. Thank you.

[Aquajonas101]

i'd like this more if i knew what "shake the dust" meant. can someone tell me what that phrase means?

[nomania]

@Aquajonas101 i think it means "get going"

[sophiafied]

@Aquajonas101 Shake the dust off of your feet. Pick yourself up and TAKE EVERYTHING.

[hg4192]

chilling.

[BrieandAbbi]

this poem is the best poem that i have ever heard.My English honors 2 class watched this poemn it was amazing and my teacher liked it alot.

~brie~

[MegLuvzLife]

It's so strange that when I feel like I am at the lowest part of my life and can't get any lower,I hear something like THIS. And it saves me for just another moment,an hour,maybe even a day. And I can feel the sun again!Thanx so much,Anis! Your wordz are VERY important and felt DEEP inside my soul!

[TheNinjamuffincat]

amazing.

[AmandaSSmall]

I have so much respect for the words he says.

[PeaceLoveTreesMusic]

*shivers* this is beautiful

[zzzzaah]

does anyone know where i can get the shirt he is wearing?

[greatauntprune]

This is so amazing. He has an incredible gift. My hat's off to you.

[FishheadComedy]

I was priviledged to get to meet him and hear him perform this live, he really connects with the audience. Great poet and great performer

[AkiiesThePoet]

This is great

[Kwissyball123]

yesssssssss....

[cheerluv4evs]

beautiful <3

[Sophaphel]

For some people, his words resonate in a way that speaks personally... for others who dont feel that connecting you may have a separate opinion. Thats okay. I think he wrote this poem for you, too.

[nopecantdothat44]

This is for the messed up kids bound like dynamite.

[cfcolly]

@nopecantdothat44 The wandering drunks out on the town tonight

[themindcatcher]

Awesome!!!!

[sabstar081]

Who the hell disliked this? I assumed that everyone is as hypnotized by the beauty of Anis' words as I am.

[MRPHENOMENALTV]

I lve poetry

[njringg]

I just keep watching this over and over again to learn the words, I love it!

[Nillabean06]

No matter how many times I see this I am never any less amazed, I love this so much

[rorkimaru]

I'll be honest; meh...

[billyboy434]

Wow. He just made me realize that I'll never be as good as him, but I love his stuff.

[GAMETIME453]

@foryoublue94

Okay, just becuase you cited another poet who is repititive, doesn't justify its use in all situations. And i my comment above was unclear. I think the reptition here actually betters the poem, but if you have listened to plenty of poems, the phrase "this is for" is used by so many people, it is getting cliche.

And the only reason we write, is so other people can understand our thoughts and emotions. We don't write so we can understand ourselves. We think to do that.

[Nabzey]

@GAMETIME453 Cliche doesn't mean it isn't appropriate. Mainstream music isn't bad, all the time. Sometimes, and in this case, it is very appropriate. It brings scope to the poem, as well as helps foster the feeling of giving, the idea that the poem is for the reader.

And that second statement is a generalization. Some people need to write to understand their thoughts, for example- /watch?v=0snNB1yS3IE&feature=r­elated (listen to the whole talk) It just depends on the person and the poem, I think.

[GAMETIME453]

@lionessinacoma

Alright, you like the poem becuase of the message and not the way it is said. So can you please explain the message you recieved? I too would like to be inspired.

[cometkite]

Amazing amazing amazing.

[Zarat818]

fuck

[TheLightsandcandy]

OH THIS GUY

[OhMJB]

i have watched this over and over again :)

7th time in a row ;)

[Ant1Live]

Eh.... meh...

[TheMechanicalLemon]

I felt that

[steelawake923]

for the celibate pedophile who keeps struggling...this man is a genius...Shake the Dust!

[GAMETIME453]

I dislike this poem, but here I will explain why:

1) The phrase "this is for..." repeated excessively I feel is overused and uncreative

2) I feel that overall the poem is overall is uncreative and too direct. He keeps on directly says what he is trying to say. The problem with that is, saying a message is less powerfull then presenting a situation in which the listener deduces it himself or herself.

3) Becuase of number 2, the poem becomes superficial.

So if you like the poem, explain why.

[drako1228]

@GAMETIME453 don't need to explain. this is not science. art is subjective.

[rorkimaru]

@drako1228 There is still a reason why you like art. Just because you may not have the ability to put your reasons across cohesively doesn't mean its not possible.

[LionessInAComa]

@GAMETIME453 I like this poem because I'm listening to the message, not the way it is said.

[foryoublue94]

@GAMETIME453 Have you ever read "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg? In the second and third part and the footnotes he is really repetitive. Sometimes poetry is repetitive. Secondly, although I totally think you're allowed to dislike a poem, poetry doesn't have to be something abstract that the listener/reader decides what it means to them- we aren't supposed to write for everyone else. We write because it's in our heart. Maybe you're the one who's uncreative. =/

[MDeezification]

f*ckin brilliant.

[SpenceMisfitOliver]

this is one of my absolute favorite spoken word poems.

[clintcatalyst]

"This is for the hard men Who want love But know that it won't come For the ones Who are forgotten The ones for whom the Amendments do not stand up for For the ones who are told to speak Only when you are spoken to And they're never spoken to Speak Everytime you stand So you do not forget yourself..."

[Shinato127]

Doesn't sound right without the music in the background </3 still fuckin love thought

[knockoutphotog]

@Shinato127 hmmm..that's funny, i feel the exact opposite. i like just hearing his voice.

[darlelop3]

i absolutely adore this one. i've watched 4 different performances on youtube of shake the dust alone .<3

[wuling09]

whywhywhy does he say "your heart beats 900 times a day", not a mistake, cos he says it all his poems. I'm just :( it's more like 90,000 times a day?

[CrazyBeautifulxEmma1]

7 people have their head up their ass for not liking this.

Inspirational, beautiful, amazing. <3

Thank you, Anis Mojgani.

[xXTIPSY808Xx]

OMG ur such an inspiration!!!!!

i am a poet at KEALAKEHE HIGH

[Ranzabar]

I first found this when Anis put it on The Zen Jar (Apple App). This is awesome. I'm a guy up in my 50's who is anything but and artist, poet or the like and I thought this was awesome. No, really, its that good. He's got talent. He say things in a way that cuts through the background chatter of the day. I read it about five times and listened to this and his other stuff. Kids a talent. Have to support him. Give him encouragement to keep writing.

[Elksownkthx]

This always gives me chills

[Forevermore4133]

This video inspires me everytime I need some inspiration. Thank you for making the weight a little lighter.

[alwaysyouramanda]

'for the girl who loves somebody else'

[terrymobrian]

This poem absolutely moves my heart with such passion. I just heard it for my college English class. This is by far the best poem I have ever heard performed. Absolutely Amazing! Kudos Anis!

[sibowittz2]

My favorite poem ever!!!!

[yeawellwhateva]

@Greenicco & @maddielyne77 - same here. its so perfect now that i've heard this.

[Ghostb]

This made me cry.

[Greenicco]

Wow. I found this when I saw a picture of the words "shake the dust" tattooed on someone's arm, and I now understand why that person chose those particular words

[maddielyne77]

@Greenicco Exact same.

[davister5213]

@Greenicco Yes I found it that way as well. This poem is beautiful.

[honestlyiamsmiling]

For the two year old who speaks half-English and half-God. beautiful.

[teri27917]

Does any on know where i can find he words to this poem?

[trailfox360]

6 people need to take their ear buds out of their minds.

[mogotron]

He is amazing. Absolutely, he has an amazing mind and voice

[arn123321]

i understand why saul williams bigged up this guy

[fast63hobag]

You are one deep dude.I thank god for people like you.Rare breed......SHAKE THE DUST....one love

[doublebflip3005]

lol that gave me goosebumps. he's good.

[fecesforjesus420]

how about we stop with our petty SUSPICIONS and go fucking SHAKE THAT DUST

this is dusty equipment we've got ourselves here; i think i might just part ways.. if only a moment

[Dichotomoon]

I've heard the line before, "speaking half english and half god", but I can't remember who from. It wasn't Anis. So now I'm suspicious, but I don't know of who.

[thillygooth51]

no it was anis. he said that at the Seattle Grand Slam in 2006 in this poem. the line was, "this is for two year olds can aren't understood because they speak half english and half God shake the dust"

[DrGonzo1337]

@thillygooth51 It was actually stated by Walter Benjamin in reference to Kafka's writting style being half-english and half-god.

[DirectorJim]

@DrGonzo1337 What does that mean? Didn't Kafka write in German?

[fecesforjesus420]

"in reference to..."

yknow...

someone else.. said that it was written in such a way.. but what does that even have to do with this guy's poem..

no..

it wasn't even a poem

so instead of wasting more time on that line

let's head the command

and shake the dust

[fecesforjesus420]

no no

yes

couldnt have been of his own!!

like wishing one a happy birthday

because it has been said, it couldn't be original?

[mcrlover4evr]

This is one of my favorite poems by him.. i actually had a chance to hear it live just today .. and go to meet him : ) it was the best

[fecesforjesus420]

WOW! :D

[anetchi]

I have goosebumps, that was amazing!!!!

[gothicphilosopher]

amazing...

[zenlust]

I love this poem. You inspire me. I actually had shivers running through my body listening to this..I've seen you do it live before and it blew me away...(Trina from Vancouver)

[Shahiida]

WOOOOOW

[fullofwednesday]

I've watched this nine times in a row now.

[calavoie1]

this guy can rhyme like no other!!!

[mogeesmiles]

HOLY GOODNESS SAKES ALIVE!!

[calavoie1]

this gives me chills

[MelissaKawasaki]

this is a really gOOd peom!!!:)

[LaniLu4Yu]

does anyone know where i can find this like written out?

[FurubaFan2709]

go to google and then type in shake the dust- anis mojgani it shoud come up

[captainblu1995]

it is incredibly hard to find them at book stores but you can get them online at like their myspace and stuff like that also amazon and ebay

[boogie589]

wow

[SchottyGrl06]

love it! <3

[accidentalforever]

there are several versions of this, here its seems quieter, and distracted, in other versions there is more energy, i cant tell which type i like more because both are amazin

[keda416]

really didn't move me

[rockerfaerie]

My heeeeeeeeeero

[amayesed]

This is for me.

[KyleGaulThirteen]

Anis Mojgani is one of my most favorate modern day poets and Shake The Dust is a good description to why

[breakinrachel]

brilliant!

[southernbelle424]

this poem brings me to tears every time.

[YaAllah786]

beautiful

[jwod7]

very inspirering!

[queezyfb]

"for those who are told to speak, only when spoken to, then are never spoken to."

damn

[rockerfaerie]

simply beautiful

[w1ndchime]

we have the same birthday

[Aurhora]

Beautiful... absolutely beautiful. I love his choice of phrases and imagery.

[singingmelifeaway]

I first saw this in my senior english class and wow this is amazing...

[mrskittles6249]

i love him

[eazilyconfused5]

really good

[speakeasynyc]

"for those 2 year olds who speak half English & half God". Wow. Anis- Thanks for making this Earth a better place.

[19jimmmmmy89]

@speakeasynyc dont understand this quote?

[DesertUnderGround]

@speakeasynyc ....yup i love this line too! its a truth that many fear to speak about