9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 My name is Harry Baker.[br]Harry Baker is my name. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 If your name was Harry Baker,[br]then our names would be the same. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's a short introductory part. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Yeah, I'm Harry. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I study math. I write poetry. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So I thought I'd start[br]with a love poem about prime numbers. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This is called "59." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was going to call it[br]"Prime Time Loving." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That reaction is why I didn't. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So, "59." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 59 wakes up[br]on the wrong side of the bed, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Realises all of his hair is on[br]one side of his head, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Takes – just under a minute – to work out[br]it’s because of the way that he slept,[br] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He finds some clothes and gets dressed. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He can’t help but look in the mirror[br]and be subtly impressed 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How he looks rough around the edges[br]and yet casually messed, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and as he glances out the windows,[br]he sees the sight that he gets blessed 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 with a 60 from across the street. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Now 60 was beautiful, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 With perfectly trimmed cuticles,[br]Dressed in something suitable, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Never rude or crude at all.[br]Unimprovable, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Right on time as usual,[br]More on cue than a snooker ball 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But liked to play it super cool.[br] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 59 wanted to tell her[br]that he knew her favourite flower, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He thought of her every second[br]every minute every hour, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But he knew it wouldn’t work,[br]he’d never get the girl, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because although she lived across the street [br]they came from different worlds. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 While 59 admired 60’s[br]‘perfectly round’ figure, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 60 thought 59 was… odd. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 One of his favourite films[br]was 101 Dalmatians, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She preferred the sequel. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He romanticised the idea[br]they were star-crossed lovers, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They could go against the odds[br]and evens because they had each other, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 While she maintained the strict views[br]imposed upon her by her mother 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That separate could not be equal. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And though at the time he felt[br]stupid and dumb 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 For trying to love a girl controlled[br]by her stupid mum, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He should have been comforted[br]by the simple sum – 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Take 59 away from 60,[br]and you’re left with the one. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Sure enough it took him 2 months[br]of moping around, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But 61 days later,[br]61 was who he found, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 His next-door neighbour,[br]he went round to her house, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because he had lost his keys again[br]and his parents were out.[br] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 As he noticed the slightly wonky[br]numbers on the door, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He wondered why he’d never[br]introduced himself before, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 As she politely let him in[br]his jaw dropped in awe – 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 61 was like 60, with a little bit more.[br](Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She had prettier eyes,[br]and an approachable smile, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And like him, rough-around-the-edges casual style, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And like him, everything[br]was in disorganise piles, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And like him, her mum didn’t mind[br]if friends stayed a while. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because she was like him, and he liked her. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He reckoned she would like me[br]if she knew he was like her, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And it was different this time.[br]I mean, this girl was wicked, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So he plucked up the courage[br]and asked for her digits.[br] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She said, "I'm 61."[br]He grinned, said, "I'm 59." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Today I’ve had a really nice time, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So tomorrow if you wanted[br]you could come over to mine? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She said, "Sure." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She loved talking to someone[br]who was just as quirky, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She agreed to this unofficial first date. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 In the end he was only[br]ready one minute early, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But it didn’t matter because[br]she arrived one minute late. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And from that moment on[br]there was non-stop chatter, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How they loved X-Factor,[br]how they had two factors, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How that did not matter –[br]distinctiveness made them better, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 By the end of the night they knew[br]they were meant together. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And one day she was talking[br]about ‘stuck up 60’, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She noticed that 59 looked a bit shifty. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He blushed – told her of his crush: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 “The best thing that never happened,[br]because it led to us” 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 61 was clever see,[br]not prone to jealousy, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She looked him in the eyes[br]and told him quite tenderly, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 You’re 59 I’m 61 together we combine[br]to become twice what 60 could ever be. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 At this point 59 had tears in his eyes, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Was so glad to have[br]this one-of-a-kind girl in his life. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 He told her the very[br]definition of being prime 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Was that with only one[br]and himself could his heart divide, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And she was the one he felt[br]he could give his heart to, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She said she felt the same[br]and now she knew the films were half true. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because that wasn't real love,[br]that love was just a sample, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because when it came to real love,[br]they were a prime example. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Cheers. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Applause) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That was the first poem that I wrote 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and it was for[br]a prime number-themed poetry night. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 -- (Laughter) -- 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 which turned out to be[br]a prime number-themed poetry competition. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I became a prime number-themed[br]poetry competition winner, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or as I like to call it,[br]a prime minister. (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And this is how I discovered[br]these things called poetry slams, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and if you don't know what[br]a poetry slam is, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it was a format come up with[br]in America 30 years ago 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as a way of tricking people[br]into going to poetry events 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 by putting an exciting word[br]like "slam" onto the end. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And each performer got three minutes[br]to perform and then 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 random audience members[br]would hold up scorecards, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and they would end up[br]with a numerical score, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and what this meant is, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it kind of broke down the barrier[br]between performer and audience 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and encouraged the kind[br]of connection with the listener. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And what it also means is you can win. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And if you win a poetry slam,[br]you can call yourself a slam champion 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and pretend you're a wrestler, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and if you lose a poetry slam you can say,[br]"Oh, what, poetry's a subjective art form, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 you can't put numbers on such things." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But I loved it, and I[br]got involved in these slams, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and I became the U.K. slam champion 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and got invited to[br]the Poetry World Cup in Paris, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 which was unbelievable. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It was people from all around the world[br]speaking in their native languages 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to be judged by five French strangers. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And somehow, I won, which was great, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and I've been able[br]to travel the world since doing it, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but it also means that this next piece 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is technically the best poem in the world. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So... 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Applause) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 According to five French strangers. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So this is "Paper People." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I like people. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I'd like some paper people. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They’d be purple paper people.[br]Maybe pop up purple paper people. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Proper pop up purple paper people. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ‘How do you prop up[br]pop up purple paper people?’ 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I hear you cry. Well I… 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I’d probably prop up proper[br]pop up purple paper people 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 with a proper pop up[br]purple people paperclip, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but I’d pre-prepare appropriate[br]adhesives as alternatives, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 a cheeky pack of blu tack[br]just in case the paper slipped. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because I could build a pop up metropolis.[br] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but i wouldn’t wanna deal[br]with all the paper people politics. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 paper politicians[br]with their paper-thin policies, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 broken promises[br]without appropriate apologies. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 there’d be a little paper me,[br]and a little paper you, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and we’d watch paper TV[br]and it would all be paper view. (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we’d watch the poppy paper rappers[br]rap about their paper package 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or watch paper people carriers[br]get stuck in paper traffic on the A4. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Paper. (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 There’d be a paper princess Kate[br]but we’d all stare at paper Pippa, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and then we’d all live in fear[br]of killer Jack the paper ripper. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because the paper propaganda[br]propagates the peoples prejudices, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 papers printing pictures[br]of the photogenic terrorists.[br] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 There’d be a little paper me,[br]and a little paper you, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but in a pop up population[br]people’s problems pop up too. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 there’d be a pompous paper parliament[br]who remained out of touch, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and who ignored the peoples protests[br]about all the paper cuts, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and then the peaceful paper protests[br]would get blown to paper pieces, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 by the confetti cannons[br]manned by pre-emptive police. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and yes there’s still be paper money,[br]so there’d still be paper greed, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and the paper piggy bankers[br]pocketing more than they need. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 purchasing the potpourri[br]to pepper their paper properties, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 while others live in poverty[br]and ain’t acknowledged properly, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 a proper poor economy[br]where so many are proper poor, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but while their needs are ignored[br]the money goes to big wars, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 origami armies unfold[br]plans for paper planes 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 while we remain imprisoned[br]in our own paper chains, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but the greater shame[br]is that it always seems to stay the same, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what changes is who’s in power[br]choosing how to lay the blame, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they’re naming names,[br]forgetting these are names of people, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 cause in the end[br]it all comes down to people. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I like people. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 cause even when the situation’s dire,[br]it is only ever people 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 who are able to inspire, and on paper – 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it’s hard to see how we all cope, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but in the bottom of pandora’s box[br]there’s still hope, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and i still hope cause i[br]believe in people.