Hermes.

I haven't forgotten.

Hermes.

I would have rather been Orpheus,

travelling to various hells for you

and singing songs to save you,

as you could not save yourself:

stop looking back. The flames are not worth it.

Let my eyes burn brighter than the abyss.

Just whatever you do, do not turn your face

away Eurydice. Hades will have his Persephone

and you are not her.

It is better this way I guess. I would have looked

back at you and watched you crumble into

a shadowy pillar of salt as did the wife of Lot

when she looked back at Sodom. I am faithless,

which is why I cannot sing like Orpheus. I am faithless,

which is why I would have watched you melt into

a shadowy memory of the underworld even if I could.

Instead, I was a messenger of these strange myths.

Wings on my feet, I raced against the multitudinous

skylines of the worlds I do not inhabit, skipped across

volumes and volumes of rows and columns of planets and

stars written by dead old men and women. They spoke presently

of the voluminous presence their absence had created, and did so

without having known of the secrets of this absence when

they wrote about their respective presents. Presents conferred

to wishful wing-footed thinkers who then spiral uncontrollably with their mouths

to sudden and dangerous depths: Every serious reader remembers

the first time they stopped whispering controversies and started shouting them

without knowing that they were shouting them: Ideas are messy things

that don't need loudspeakers: Decibels violently shudder themselves out

of being the moment you mention to your mother that God

might not exist and Camus said so: Existence itself implodes outwards

like how plants produce seeds that make themselves when novels

start at their ends which are really their beginnings: Children

kill their mothers through birth: Boys with wings on their feet

This is

          how

and

          where

I flew towards you without a chariot

and found you in your various hells, one book at a time,

and why I would have rather have been Orpheus

because at least then I could have sang you songs

before you ended up retreating back into your various

selves. It could have been my fault then for looking back.

It could have been,

   could have been,

   could have been

you that was Orpheus. You who looked back.

You being the reason that I crumbled into a pillar of

shadow and salt because, as did Lot's wife, I looked back.

We both did, and watched the whole world invert itself

on its axis, then turn and twist and shift itself

into superimposed images and shapes and dreams

that changed you from muse to poet and

dream to dreamer

and Eurydice to Orpheus

and to Lot then his wife

and to this: which you always were.

              Those wings on your feet: When

the librarians changed the positions of the bookshelves-

and therefore our imaginations: our movements

and stanzas and scenes and days and nights-

               Those wings on your feet: When

that happened they must have stopped fluttering

for a second. I tried flying again and fell.

I haven't been much of a messenger since.

The Flying Mercury by Giovanni da Bologna
Image Source: http://acircleofquiet.typepad.com/.a/6a0105365c8671970c010536d7ed61970c-320wi

MAKING THE BEST SPEECH.

'Zeus' at Debaters Without Borders (DWB) has kindly given me the permission to post this handy guide on making the perfect speech on my blog. 

But first, some quick info about Debaters Without Borders: it's a Botswana-based organization that focuses on encouraging the country's youth to engage in a variety of issues through Debate, and goes from school to school teaching public speaking and skills in argumentation. We also organize Debate events for high schools to compete against each other for prizes and of course, bragging rights. 

Our motto is very simple: Breaking the chains that bind. We want to change the way people think and see the world from the perspective of a Debater- meaning we  want to break free from the ignorance and fallacies that prevent us from excelling as rational beings.

Now, have a go at reading these tips and try applying them to all your Debates and Speeches.MAKING THE BEST SPEECH.


TIP 1.

Be Memorable:

Sounds easy in theory. Of course, it takes discipline and imagination to pull it off. Many times, an audience may only remember a single line. For example, John F. Kennedy is best known for this declaration in his 1961 inaugural address: “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what can do for your country.” Technically, the line itself uses contrast to grab attention. More important, it encapsulated the main point of Kennedy’s speech: We must sublimate ourselves and serve to achieve the greater good. So follow Kennedy’s example: Condense your theme into a 15-20 word epigram and build everything around it top-to-bottom.

There are other rhetorical devices that leave an impression. For example, Ronald Reagan referred to America as “a shining city on the hill” in speeches. The image evoked religious heritage, freedom, and promise. And listeners associated those sentiments with Reagan’s message. Conversely, speakers can defy their audience’s expectations to get notice. In the movie Say Anything, the valedictorian undercut the canned optimism of high school graduation speeches with two words: “Go back.” In doing so, she left her audience speechless…for a moment, at least.

Metaphors…Analogies…Surprise…Axioms. They all work. You just need to build up to them…and place them in the best spot (preferably near the end).



TIP 2.

Have a Structure:

Think back on a terrible speech. What caused you to lose interest? Chances are, the speaker veered off a logical path.

Audiences expect two things from a speaker: A path and a destination. They want to know where you’re going and why. So set the expectation near your opening on what you’ll be covering. As you write and revise, focus on structuring and simplifying. Remove anything that’s extraneous, contradictory, or confusing.

 Remember: If it doesn't help you get your core message across, drop it.



TIP 3.

Don’t Waste the Opening:

Too often, speakers squander the time when their audience is most receptive: The opening. Sure, speakers have people to thank. Some probably need time to get comfortable on stage. In the meantime, the audience silently suffers.

When you speak, come out swinging. Share a shocking fact or statistic. Tell a humorous anecdote related to your big idea. Open with a question – and have your audience raise their hands. Get your listeners engaged early. And keep the preliminaries short. You’re already losing audience members every minute you talk. Capitalize on the goodwill and momentum you’ll enjoy in your earliest moments on stage.



TIP 4.

Strike the Right Tone:

 Who is my audience? Why are they here? And what do they want? Those are questions you must answer before you even touch the keyboard. Writing a speech involves meeting the expectations of others, whether it’s to inform, motivate, entertain, or even challenge. To do this, you must adopt the right tone.

Look at your message. Does it fit with the spirit of the event? Will it draw out the best in people? Here’s a bit of advice: If you’re speaking in a professional setting, focus on being upbeat and uplifting. There’s less risk. Poet Maya Angelou once noted, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Even if your audience forgets everything you said, consider your speech a success if they leave with a smile and a greater sense of hope and purpose.

That’s a message in itself. And it’s one they’ll share.


TIP 5.

Humanize Yourself:

You and your message are one-and-the-same. If your audience doesn't buy into you, they’ll resist your message too. It’s that simple. No doubt, your body language and delivery will leave the biggest impression. Still, there are ways you can use words to connect.

Crack a one liner about your butterflies; everyone can relate to being nervous about public speaking. Share a story about yourself, provided it relates to (or transitions to) your points. Throw in references to your family, to reflect you’re trustworthy. And speak like you’re having a casual conversation with a friend. You’re not preaching or selling. You’re just being you.

 On stage, you can be you at your best.


TIP 6.

Repeat Yourself:

We've all been there. When someone is speaking, we’ll drift off to a Caribbean beach or the Autobahn. Or, we’ll find ourselves lost and flustered when we can’t grasp a concept. Once you've fallen behind, it’s nearly impossible to pay attention. What’s the point?

In writing a speech, repetition is the key to leaving an impression. Hammer home key words, phrases, and themes. Always be looking for places to tie back and reinforce earlier points. And repeat critical points as if they were a musical refrain.

Some audience members may get annoyed when you repeat yourself. But don’t worry how they feel today.

Concern yourself with this question: What will they remember six months from now?



TIP 7. 

Use Transitions: Sometimes, audiences won’t recognize what’s important. That’s why you use transitional phrases to signal intent. For example, take a rhetorical question like “What does this mean” – and follow it with a pause. Silence gets attention – and this tactic creates anticipation (along with awakening those who've drifted off). Similarly, a phrase like “So here’s the lesson” also captures an audience’s interest. It alerts them that something important is about to be shared. Even if they weren't paying attention before, they can tune in now and catch up.

TIP 8.

End strong and Keep it Short:

What is the worst sin of public speaking? It’s trying to do too much! Your audience’s attention will naturally wane after a few minutes. They have other places to be – and don’t want to be held hostage. And the longer you stay on stage, the more likely you are to stray and make mistakes. So make your points and sit down.

Never forget: This is their time, not yours.


***

I hope you found all of those tips useful! If you're based in Gaborone, please keep a watch out for Debaters Without Border's future activities including an upcoming debate tournament and a spelling bee. DWB also needs the help of its citizens so its activities have as much impact as possible. Please like our Facebook Page  and comment, share, like and follow what we've got to say. Also, if you would like to invest, or know anyone who would like to help sponsor us, do not hesitate to email us at flairshsenwedi@gmail.com and tawanda.mulalu@maruapula.org.