A Light Bulb Symphony

by Phil Kaye

Poems by Phil Kaye

Genres: Poetry, Fiction

42 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Raised in a California beach town to a Japanese mother and Jewish-American father, Phil first fell in love with spoken word poetry at age 17. Since then, he has performed in hundreds of venues in fifteen countries. His work has been viewed online over five million times and featured in media outlets ranging from NPR to Al Jazeera America to Upworthy.com. Most recently, Phil was invited to perform alongside His Holiness The Dalai Lama for the celebration of his 80th birthday. He is the co-director of Project VOICE, an organization that uses poetry as tool to promote empowerment, improve literacy, and encourage empathy and creative collaboration in classrooms and communities. Through his work with Project VOICE, Phil has worked hands-on with students of all different ages in over a hundred schools around the world.

Phil is a graduate of Brown University, where he was head coordinator of Space in Prisons for the Arts and Creative Expression (SPACE) and taught weekly poetry workshops in maximum security prisons. He is the two-time recipient of the National College Poetry Slam (CUPSI) award for “Pushing the Art Forward”, given for outstanding innovation in the art of performance poetry – the only person to receive the award both as a performer and coach. His first book, A Light Bulb Symphony, was published in 2011. When not on the road, Phil lives in New York City and spends his time writing new work, using 90′s slang, and quietly wondering to himself what the dealio is.

Reviews

[Frannie Pan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry collection was incredible. It blew my mind away.

Besides two or three poems that didn't really speak to me due to our different cultures, the rest was breath-taking. They have such a unique and enchanting rhythm, the words he uses are mesmerizing and they flow like the current of the ocean and hit you like waves against the shore.
I read them aloud, listened to the sounds creating this lyrical orchestra and it was as if lullabies were resonating within my ears, as if they were the echoing sounds captured in seashells.

I loved how every single poem was a story with a beginning, a middle and an end. They depicted life and feelings and personal experiences and simply took my breath away.

My favourites were Raccoon Man and Funerals are like birthday parties. So intense.

And now I'm addicted to watch him perform. Thank God to Youtube videos. I might watch and listen to him perform Repetition a thousand times without ever getting tired. This is art in its purest form.

[Aislynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was amazing how I could hear his spoken voice reciting the words as I read his work.

"Poetry is eternity,
and we're just specks you see
dabbling in its mystery
transcending history
and I once was blind
but now can
write."

[Vilhelmiina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Here lies a man's private poetry. Trespassers welcome."

[Saiber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's very difficult to rate a poetry book. I bought this tiny book (around 30 pages) for a hefty price of 1k. Yeah, got it signed from Phil so I'm happy.

I love Phil's poetry performances. They are amazing. I especially fell in love with his writing after watching him perform "Repetition"

The thing is I was hoping for those kind of poems in this book. Some of the poems are great. Some dont have the same impact due to cultural differences I suppose. Poems dont have to be relatable as such but when i read them I should feel something from it. This was sadly missing for me in some of the poems.

Will I buy a Phil Kaye book again? Yes. Hopefully a bit longer would be nice and not so expensive. I am not disappointed in the purchase as such, but i really wished it had the iconic pieces that made me want to buy his work in the first place.

[frannie.qb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry collection was incredible. It blew my mind away.

Besides two or three poems that didn't really speak to me due to our different cultures, the rest was breath-taking. They have such a unique and enchanting rhythm, the words he uses are mesmerizing and they flow like the current of the ocean and hit you like waves against the shore.
I read them aloud, listened to the sounds creating this lyrical orchestra and it was as if lullabies were resonating within my ears, as if they were the echoing sounds captured in seashells. 

I loved how every single poem was a story with a beginning, a middle and an end. They depicted life and feelings and personal experiences and simply took my breath away.

My favourites were Raccoon Man and Funerals are like birthday parties. So intense.

And now I'm addicted to watch him perform. Thank God to Youtube videos. I might watch and listen to him perform Repetition a thousand times without ever getting tired. This is art in its purest form.

[Jackie Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this guy's work, wish he'd write more.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"And on that sidewalk, holding hands,
we carefully place his shards piece by piece
until they take up the entire sky.
A magnificent mosaic—
a million tiny pictures,
worth a billion tiny words.
Words that we will speak back and forth
until the stars burn out
and our only home
will be the peaceful spaces between them.

Steadfastly holding onto our wishes,
patiently waiting to finally come true."

This is one of the first two poetry books I have ever owned, one of the first two books I have ever managed to get signed, bought on the first poetry show I have ever been to. Talk about sentimental value. :)

I've been following Phil Kaye's work on YouTube for a quite some time now, and two nights ago, I was fortunate enough to witness it for myself and meet him in person. Phil has such a powerful way with words, his every poem a metaphor, an account of his family's history, of his personal life, and the people who made their mark in it. Although nothing beats the experience of watching the rawness of his performances, absorbing his words in print will leave you emotional all the same.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Phil Kaye fan ever since I stumbled upon his spoken word videos on YouTube. Since then this book has been on my want to read list and I've even been lucky enough to attend one of his performances. He is one of my all time favorite poets and this review will mostly be me singing his praises so you've been warned!

A Light Bulb Symphony lived up to every exception I had for this book. It's hard for me to even put into words how much I enjoyed it. The writing was everything I want poetry to be. It was honest and exposing and after reading it I definitely felt like I got a peak into his mind, his heart, and his life. There were so many lines and poems that will stick with me long after the book closes and new ones open. One of my favorites is Funerals Are Like Birthday Parties it's a poem that oozes love and grief but also hope. I want to be as brave as Miriam. I want to see beauty in things soaked in pain. I lost my father at a young age and that tragedy really changed that mindset of never thinking about death. It's definitely something we talk about more now. Funerals can be so difficult and cold, but
there was something so warm and almost peaceful about this one. I want that for my family and I want that for myself to come to the end and stand tall knowing it's time for my party. Other poems in this book aren't as heavy as that one, so don't let me scare you away. It has a really good mix of poetry, but also keeps in mind that every poem should give us something. There is no filler poems or unnecessary ones in this book.

I 100% recommend buying this book and I promise the only complaint you'll have at the end of it is that it just wasn't long enough. Phil Kaye thank you for creating work that stay with us long after we have closed your book. I hope many people have the pleasure of know the beauty you have created in this world. Let me leave you all with one of my favorite quotes from the book that’s says ”Some days the creases in your fingers are the closest thing I have to forgiveness. And those days take me with you.”

[zo]

one thought: in one of these stanzas, phil writes "bible versus" (and clearly means "bible verses"). i think about this -- so for some people, the Bible, God, Jesus, etc... all these are just able to be misspelled and overlooked. whereas others will think so long and hard about the nature of God and pain and pore over biblical Greek and what the pastor is saying today or last week -- "bible versus", God! bible versus the human experience, bible versus girls, bible versus womanhood, versus postmodernism, versus your own existence, versus poetry! versus poetry

i like the poem 'she asks me' for its final stanza: "here lies a man's private poetry / trespassers welcome." i like the poem 'Jesus will do it for half' because i think it's funny and youthful. i wish he'd talked more about being a light bulb.

other thoughts: i felt like some of the rhymes were trying too hard but i still liked it; i think spoken word is better spoken and not written, but, as usual, it's nice to have something to hold.

[Amber Showalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of earlier work from Phil Kaye. All of Phil Kaye's works, whether spoken or written, have always stayed with me. "A Light Bulb Symphony" is no exception. Sometimes earlier work can give us glimpses into where the writer has come from, and I love making the connections into where the writer is going. I see this throughout Phil's work, from "A Light Bulb Symphony" to his later book, "Date & Time". Both where incredible reads. I only wish "A Light Bulb Symphony" were longer, simply because I love his work. I found "Funerals Are Like Birthday Parties" and "For Trey" to be particularly haunting pieces in this book.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A Light Bulb Symphony contained classics like "Teeth" and I relished some of Phil's new work (most notably "Raccoon Man"), but I also felt like some of the pieces were a bit too contrived (like "Jesus Will Do it for Half") and not especially funny/clever. However, I love Phil and can attest that his live performances are to die for.

[Kate Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite the same elegance as Date and Time, but it really has spirit! I really appreciate the earnestness and the energy of this collection—and I love that you can see the same spark that Kaye still emits as a more mature poet these days. One of my favorite things is watching voice shift and develop—being able to see his earlier work was a real treat.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phil Kaye is (and, as this collection proves, has long been) an incredible poet. Though I enjoyed these poems immensely, it's evident his voice and personal rhythm was still in development when he wrote them.

[Nischal · Rating 4 out of 5]

because phil is a man with fabulous hair and no heart, the anthology starts with poems to make you cry

[Sokcheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

short but punchy punchy feely feely. or you can say... phily phily...

[Alison Curwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t want to rush reading the poems- I wanted to savior them. I’ll be reading them again: Teeth, Funerals are like birthday parties, Hip hop lullaby.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.

[Izzy Lamb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely love "Teeth", "Raccoon Man", "Ayekaye" and "For Trey" and read them over and over again, but the others just didn't speak to me very much.

[Mya Matteo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phil Kaye is excellent as a spoken word poet! As a written poet... he's good, but you can tell it's not his preferred medium.

[Reem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muwah

[Caitlin Vaille · Rating 3 out of 5]

None of these were true standouts to me, but I always really enjoy Phil Kaye's poems. My favorites in here were "This American Life" and "She Asks Me".

[Aquila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful and compelling poetry with rhythm I can feel.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Here Lies a Man's Private Poetry
Trespassers Welcome"

Beautiful.

[Warlou Joyce Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update: Reread this because I finally have my own copy - one signed by Phil Kaye during their show in Manila this 2018!

Teeth, Raccoon Man, and Funerals are like Birthday Parties are still my favorites from the collection.

--------------------------------

"Here lies a man's private poetry. Trespassers welcome."

Phil Kaye’s work reflects a sensitivity to the world – both its beauties and heartbreaking truths– that is delightful and saddening to read.

His poems strike a chord by using a voice that tells the familiar and strangely new. It’s for the reader to decide whether it’s the former or the latter, or a combination of both.

I wasn’t able to relate to some parts but the beauty of it is in the emotion that his words evoke. Each individual word or sentence may seem peculiar and speaks of a different thought, but woven together to relate a story, tells of feelings and human experiences that are universal – of nightmares, fears, hope, and love of life. Of braving life’s storms, emerging alive and still breathing, but not without a fair share of battle scars.

My personal favorites were The Raccoon Man and Funerals are Like Birthday Parties. Weird titles, right? But they offer raw emotions from experiences that feel all too real and relatable.

My only regret is that I do not own a copy of this gem – a situation I intend to remedy very soon. To my friend who let me borrow her copy and savor Phil Kaye’s words, thank you. Much like this masterpiece, you’re a gem.

[Theresa Mariz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE PHIL KAYE WITH ALL OF MY HEART!

There I said it.

This book is very special because I got it when I watched my first spoken word poetry. Phil was amazing during the show. The emotions and the delivery of the poems gutted me.

And reading this (again) brings me back to that time. Emotionally charged and captivating, just like how Phil is when he's performing.

Rereading this makes me so excited for his new book.

Thank you, Phil Kaye, for blessing the world with your words.



My voice rushes from the safety of its throat,
I will not forget what has happened to us, Grampy.

And he looks at me with the innocent surprise
of a child struck for the first time.

Philip,
Forgetting is the only gift I wish to give you.
I have given away my only son
trying to bury my hate in a cemetery that is already overflowing.
There are nights I am kept awake
by the birthday songs of children
I never let live.

They often look like you.

A plague on both your houses
They have made worm's meat of me.

[Phoebe A · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is best if you could watch him perform live or even in videos on the Internet. Or else you will miss the animated expressions and emphasized words Phil Kaye lays on every poems he wrote. An example of this would be the repeated lines he usually has: This house is amazing. This house is amazing. This house is amazing. Reading these lines in the book does not come quite strong unlike when it was spoken.

My favorites are "Teeth" and "Raccoon Man."

I have a problem because of cultural differences. I am not an American. If I didn't researched I wouldn't know what he was referring to in one poem, among others. But it is nice to learn such things.

[Susan Khambekian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love LOVED these poems. So much talent.

[Angelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

His poetry is touching, but I just cannot bring myself to overlook the many editing mistakes in this book..

[Ina Capulong · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too personal and private for my taste. Has the potential for 5 stars as spoken word, but just a little dead as written word.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Here Lies a Man's Private Poetry
Trespassers Welcome"