Original subtitles

Done, Carl.

Hey, everybody.

Guess what?

You found your missing notebook?

No, silly. I get to read a poem I wrote at the Cultural Arts Assembly.

What marvelous news.

Everyone in my class gets to do something, like a song or a dance.

And my teacher said I should read my poem.

I know a poem.

Roses are red.

Dragons are blue.

Oh, thank you for sharing your poem with us, Carl.

I hope I can do as well as you in front of the assembly.

Don't worry. You're going to do great. You had no problem getting on stage for

the school musical.

But this show feels different.

I'll be standing on stage all by myself, reading something I wrote.

Poetry comes from the heart.

And that means you'll be sharing a bit of yourself along with it.

I had to do a reading at an assembly once.

I practiced over and over again until I was confident.

Maybe you could do the same.

You want to read your poem to us?

Oh, please read your poem.

It would be so delightful.

Music to my ears.

Poem! Poem!

Poem!

Guess it couldn't hurt to practice.

I will be reading a tonka.

It's a kind of Japanese poem.

I call it... Hummingbird.

Hummingbird's buzzing. I'm swaying to a soft breeze.

My wings touch tall grass.

Standing alone in nature. I'm never standing alone.

Oh. Yeah.

That's the best poem I've ever heard. The words were so swoopy. Your poem

made me feel just like a hummingbird.

Thanks. I just thought about something I like and about being in nature.

Then I put them together.

Two things together?

Sweet mochi and green bamboo.

That will be my poem.

I want to write one, too.

What's mochi?

It's a sweet, sticky rice.

Especially delicious when wrapped around ice cream.

Mmm, sounds good.

It is.

Now. Let's find you two some paper so you can write your poems while you feel

inspired.

So, what'd you think of the reading?

Um, the reading?

You did a great job reading.

Looked like you were having fun up there.

I wonder if Stillwater needs help finding that paper.

But what did you think of the poem?

Oh, the poem.

It was interesting.

In what way?

It... Gave me something to think about. Great. It's supposed to.

So, what were you thinking?

Oh, I was thinking that I didn't really understand it.

You don't have to understand it, as long as you feel it.

You didn't feel it either?

So that means you didn't like it.

I'm really sorry.

I'm not trying to upset you.

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

No. You were being honest.

But I wish I hadn't asked you what you thought.

Is everything okay, Michael?

I didn't understand Daddy's poem.

Oh.

I'll see if she would like her notebook back.

Hello, Addie.

I think this belongs to you.

Thanks, but you can keep it.

I don't want to read my poem at the assembly.

You seemed so excited to read it earlier.

Did something change?

Michael didn't like it.

I can see how that would be disappointing.

You know, Addy, everyone experiences art differently, whether it's a poem or a

painting.

Sometimes it means you might not like it.

But what if I want everyone to like it?

There's someone I think you should talk to.

And on the way, I'll tell you a story you might find amusing.

I'd like to hear something amusing.

Now, this story takes place at an art gallery not so very long ago.

An art gallery is a little bit like a museum.

Here, artists would show their latest masterpieces.

One evening, three young artists were... doing just that.

They had their finest artwork on display.

They were extremely nervous because a very important art critic was there to

see everyone's work.

Here he comes! Oh, I hope he liked my painting.

Oh, me too.

It was clear the artist greatly valued this critic's opinion.

I don't understand it.

I don't feel it.

I understand it.

I feel it.

But I don't care for it.

The artists were disappointed.

Especially when the critics... praised the very next thing he saw.

Now this, this is a masterpiece.

Ah, the way it leans. Such a bold artistic statement. So common, yet so

sublime. What an accurate depiction of yielding to the futility of tidiness.

To me, that is art.

It looked like a plain old broom to me.

Ah, there it is.

Been looking for this everywhere.

Excuse me, is that your artwork?

No, kid, it's my broom.

You'll never believe this, but a famous art critic just called it a masterpiece.

Really? Well, everyone's entitled to an opinion, I guess. And if you want

mine... These three right here are the real masterpieces.

At that moment, the three artists realized that one opinion doesn't

determine an object's worth, no matter how important the critic.

Michael wasn't snooty like that art critic.

But I understand how those artists felt.

When someone doesn't like something you're proud of, it doesn't feel very

good. I knew you'd understand that story.

And now?

We have arrived.

It's Mr. Morgan.

Is he the one you wanted me to talk to?

Yes, he is.

Mr. Morgan knows what it's like to write something from the heart.

Just like you.

Everyone in my class is going to perform a song or a dance.

And what kind of art will you be sharing, Eddie?

Poetry. It's something I wrote.

Oh, that's fantastic.

You must be so excited.

I am.

I mean, I was.

I practiced reading my poem, but not everybody liked it.

Then let me guess.

That made you question if your poem is any good.

And if you're any good at writing poems.

How'd you know?

Because I've had those same feelings plenty of times myself.

You know, a lot of people like my books.

But some people don't.

Really? But your books are so much fun to read.

Well, thank you, Eddie.

But not everyone feels that way.

In fact, it's impossible for everyone to feel the same way about everything.

So, do you just focus on the good things others say?

Oh, no.

If I believed the good reviews, I'd have to believe the bad ones, too.

Instead... I just believe in myself.

Yourself? If I'm happy with what I write, that's all that matters.

I love my mochi, shaded by a bamboo tree. It tastes oh so sweet.

Strawberry and green tea.

That's what's inside my mochi.

Mochi ice cream sure is fun.

Now I want to eat me some.

Bravo! Oh, yeah!

After hearing your poems, I suddenly have a craving for mochi ice cream.

Addy, I'm really sorry for upsetting you before.

I didn't mean to.

It's all right, Michael.

I've learned that not everyone is going to like my poem.

And that's okay.

Does that mean you're going to read your poem at the assembly?

I can't believe I'm going to go out there and sing in front of everyone.

Y'all do great. I love your singing.

Thanks. But what if they don't like it?

Or the show?

How can you be so calm?

I'm calm now.

But I was worried earlier and thought my poem wasn't any good.

But now I realize there's only one person I have to please out there.

Let me tell you a story about three artists who had their art in a show.

Thank you.

I will be reading a Tonka poem I wrote called Hummingbird.

Hummingbird's buzzing.

I'm swaying to a soft breeze.

My wings touch the grass.

Ah, what a beautiful day for a hike.

Even the leaves are dancing with excitement.

This is going to be the best nature hike ever. I can't wait to look for all the

birds in my book.

Very interesting.

There's so many to see. Did you know these woods are home to an amazing 30

species of birds?

Whoa! That's a lot of species!

What's a species?

Species is just a scientific way of saying different types of birds.

See? Some birds fly as high as planes.

while others don't fly at all.

Today, I'm going to find as many as I can. And every time I see one, I'll get

to put a check in one of these little boxes.

So many boxes.

You may have to look all day.

That's a lot of birds.

Well, if anyone can check up all those boxes, it's Michael.

Now, everyone remember, being a good bird watcher requires patience and

careful observation.

What you see depends on where you look.

Bird-watching eyes are ready!

I think we're all excited to look for some beautiful birds.

Let's see what we can find.

Fun fact!

Birds will use what's available to make their nests.

You see a bird?

Maybe it'll come back.

It was so fluffy.

It was fluffy? How fluffy?

Like this much feathery.

But are you sure, Carl? I also looked at the bird. I thought it was smooth.

Hmm. Okay. So smooth or fluffy?

What color was it?

one of these.

Let's just keep walking.

I'm sorry, Michael.

I know you want to see birds.

We will look for more.

Thanks, Koo.

Just remember, we need to be really observant so we don't miss any details.

Okay?

Ah, so much beauty around us, isn't there, Michael?

Uh-huh. Did you know the White-Crested Laughing Thrush travel in flock?

How lovely to have friends to fly with.

up here no way oh it's gone

maybe it was an eagle or a hawk or what about an osprey or maybe it was a

dragon a big fire breathing one i'm not sure it was as big as a dragon but

it was really big

An owl?

Awake during the day?

A big northern hawk owl. Or maybe a pygmy owl.

Oh, what a wonderful surprise.

A butterfly pretending to be an owl.

A butterfly that looks like an owl?

Let's just keep going. There's nothing to see here.

Alligators here.

So much more to see.

Across the log we will go.

What an adventure.

Wait for me.

Are you enjoying the nature hike, Michael?

Not really.

I'm the only one who hasn't seen any birds today.

And that's the only reason I came along.

The only reason?

Well... Maybe not the only reason, but it was important.

Sometimes when we put all of our focus on one thing, everything else can become

invisible.

If we only look at what is in our hand, we may miss something right under our

nose.

Would you like to hear a story?

I always like hearing your stories.

And I always like telling them to you.

Now then, many years ago, there was a small town that was on its way to

becoming a big city.

Benjamin had just started his new job as a maintenance worker.

Every day, He would inspect the town's brand new sidewalk for chips and cracks.

There's one over there, and another here.

Benjamin was so focused on his work, he never looked up from the sidewalk

beneath him.

Beautiful day, isn't it, Benjamin?

Indeed that it is.

Several years passed, and Benjamin was a little older.

And so was the sidewalk.

And he continued to keep a watchful eye, taking detailed notes of any cracks he

found. Oh, this crack has grown.

And over here, somebody had a spill.

But while he continued to focus only on the sidewalk, he didn't notice the big

changes that were taking place around him.

Even more years passed, and now Benjamin was very old.

and still hard at work inspecting the sidewalk.

Excuse me.

Pardon me.

If you wouldn't mind moving a bit, I just need to inspect this crack.

Benjamin, for your many years of hard work, our great city thanks you for your

service.

Oh. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Over all these years, you really must have seen a lot of changes.

Ah, yes, I have.

And the sidewalk used to be short, but now it's very long.

And I've watched many cracks form over the years.

I was referring to all the changes that have gone on in our great city.

When you started, we were a very small town. But look at us now.

Whoa!

Benjamin was so busy looking down at the sidewalk all these years...

He never noticed the changes that were happening up above.

Now, how will you spend your well-deserved vacation?

Imagine all the things I could have seen if I just looked up every once in a

while. Well, I'm going to start doing that right now.

I've been acting a lot like Benjamin today. The whole hike I've been focused

on my book instead of looking up around me.

In order to really experience the world, we have to open our senses.

Only then are we able to see all the remarkable things around us.

What do you see when you look around?

Well, I see lots of trees and a creek and a panda.

Yes, all those things are here.

Now, close your eyes.

Let's tune in to everything around us.

What do you smell?

I smell fresh pine needles and wet leaves.

And what do you feel?

I feel dirt crunching beneath my shoes.

What do you hear?

I hear the wind blowing through the leaves, and...

I hear birds!

A woodpecker! And a robin!

Tell me, Michael.

Now what do you see?

I can't believe it!

anything off your list no but i found lots of amazing things that weren't on

my list come on i'll show you aren't you gonna use your book

i'm gonna look up for a change

do you hear that

that's a woodpecker wow oh and look over there a dragonfly whoa and

robin See?

Aww.

time.