Crew Poetry: Show Biz, Slumbering Angel

-Now, many of you probably don't know this,
but, in addition to being one of the best crews in television,
all the people who work behind the scenes here at "Late Night,"
from the camera operators to the sound engineers,
are extremely respected and accomplished poets.
It's true.
[ Laughter ]
In fact, a lot of them work at the show during the day
and write and teach poetry at night.
So we thought, why not let them share
some of their poetry with you
in our latest edition of "Crew Poetry"?
[ Classical music plays ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
First up is the recipient
of the Poetry Society of America's
prestigious Robert Frost Award.
He's also our cameraman, Gene Kelly.
He'll be reading a poem entitled "Showbiz."
♪♪♪♪
-"Showbiz" by Gene Kelly.
[ Light laughter ]
Working in showbiz,
the lights, cameras, the works.
I won't deny it -- it certainly got its perks.
[ Light laughter ]
At this show, you're treated like a king,
and it's the best.
[ Light laughter ]
One great benefit --
I get to sleep with all the guests.
[ Laughter ]
I go to bed with actresses, actors, politicians --
I don't care.
[ Laughter ]
They come right over to my apartment
after they leave the guest chair.
Who is the best in the sack?
That's one question you'll never get me to answer.
But here's a hint --
her last name was different,
and her first name rhymes with "Kathie Lee."
[ Laughter, cheers and applause ]
-Thank you so much, Gene.
[ Applause continues ]
Next up -- and this is very special --
is a group-written poem
by four members of our tech crew,
Mike Knarre, Kenny Coyle, Mike Zecca, and Charlie Friend,
all of whom are professors of poetry at Oxford University.
They will be reading a poem entitled "The Four of Us."
♪♪♪♪
-"The Four of Us."
The four of us are the coolest guys in the whole crew.
-Everybody wants to be us.
We're better than you.
-We're sassy, secretive.
We pretty much run "Late Night with Seth Meyers."
-I guess you could say
we're like the four girls from "Pretty Little Liars."
[ Laughter ]
-I'm like Spencer, the smart, overachieving one.
I could have gone to Yale.
-And I'm like Aria.
I'm kind and caring, and I look like Lucy Hale.
[ Laughter ]
-I'm Hanna,
'cause I'm a bitch and a winner.
[ Laughter ]
-And I'm Emily, the lesbian swimmer.
[ Laughter and applause ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Thank you, guys.
That was very beautiful.
And, Charlie, you are a total Emily.
-Thanks, Seth.
-Next up, we have the 2017 Griffin Poetry Prize winner
and our show's I.T. guy, A.J. Hamami.
He will be reading a poem entitled
"Admit It, You're Surprised."
♪♪♪♪
-"Admit It, You're Surprised," by A.J. Hamami.
Admit it.
When you heard "I.T. guy,"
you didn't think this is how I'd look.
I bet you pictured some skinny, four-eyed nerd
with his head buried in a book.
Yeah, I set up our whole intraoffice firewall protection
and make sure people's e-mails can be read.
I'm also the best player on our softball team
and have a shar-- a tattoo of a shark eating a guy's head.
[ Light laughter ]
So if you're a "Late Night" writer
having problems with Microsoft Word,
just remember, I'm a badass I.T. guy,
and you're the [bleep] nerd.
[ Laughter and applause ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Thank you, A.J.
[ Applause continues ]
And, lastly, our cue-card guy, Wally.
♪♪♪♪
-"Slumbering Angel" by Wally Feresten.
The night is silent in the cozy house.
No one's astir.
The love of my life sleeps soundly.
Each breath, a gentle purr.
I gaze ever so longingly,
watching my dearest one count sheep.
Every night, I sneak into Seth's apartment
and watch him sleep.
[ Laughter ]
What do you dream, sweet prince?
A liberal utopia? A Trump-free life?
[ Laughter ]
Don't you worry, my sweet Seth.
I almost never sneak a peek at your wife.
[ Laughter ]
You may be wondering, "How does someone who looks like me
commit this stunning infiltration?"
I dress up like a police officer
and pretend I'm conducting an investigation.
[ Laughter ]
Watching you sleep fills me with the utmost glee.
Don't believe me?
Take a look at this selfie!
[ Laughter ]
[ Applause ]
-This has been "crew poetry."

Crew Poetry: Show Biz, Slumbering Angel

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