We+Are+More

We Are More

The poem " We are More", to me, means that Canada as a whole is more than it seems and that we are bigger than the sum of our parts. The stereotypes that are used to define us hold us back because we are so much more than them. For example: Shane Koyczan said that- "some say what defines us is something as simple as 'please' and 'thank you'." This is an example of a stereotype that is not necessarily bad but that can hold us back. To have this one line "define" us is like saying that is all we are, but there is more to the definition of Canada. As Shane Koyczan says: "We dream so big that there are those who would call our ambition an industry." "We are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait." "And what's more, is that we didn't just say it, we made it be." These are some of the many things that define us, and in the 15th stanza of the poem he leaves it open to new reasons by saying: "We are More." The title of the poem. Shane Koyczan uses metaphor to further illustrate his points. Metaphors can create meaningful thoughts in your brain and so they are an important literary device. At one point he is explaining how Canada is multicultural and uses this metaphor to explain better: "...cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry." To me this gives the impression of a huge quilt, strung with a million different colours. This is saying that Canada is the quilt and all the different colours are our different cultures. This is just one example of the great use of metaphor. Another is: "We are an experiment going right for a change." This is saying that with so many things going wrong in the world Canada is one of the only things heading in the right direction. In my opinion, hearing the poem gives it much more depth than just reading it would. You can hear the inflection in his voice which emphasizes the words or sentences that are the most important. It is also great when he speeds up and slows down the speed he was talking at. I think the greatest experience is when you can hear the poem, because you hear it the way it was meant to be read by the author. That is what makes slam poetry special and fun to hear. Overall I loved this poem, it really speaks to me. I love my country and so hearing a poem like this is really special.