Corbet Dean—The Measure of a Man
..., for sometimes those who are with us the least can move us the most. Today, I wish to tribute my mentor, Corbet Dean, through chronicling his inspiring work, our friendship, and his random acts of kindness offstage. Last summer, Corbet performed in front of 3000 people at the Poetry Slam Nationals in Minnesota, where he placed 2nd in the nation. While most poets show up looking for an ego boost, to work a large audience, or just to get laid, Corbet makes it clear that he is there only to make his side of the story heard, and to change people’s perceptions of police officers. His poetry illustrates his experiences in law enforcement, while never forsaking his values and deep spirituality. He tells it like it is, calls people on their bluffs, and is honest about his struggles. He values the power of the spoken word more than anything else, and knows what kind of impact they can have. In fact, he once wrote “I wish the measure of a man were the weight of his words, and not his abundance of speech.” However, more powerful than the weight of his words was the selflessness of his actions. While many walk the road to poetic inspiration alone, Corbet saw my potential and walked alongside me. He critiqued me, supported me, carpooled with me, and bought be lunches. Soon, someone who I looked up to as an incredible performer had become an incredible friend. The conversations that we shared were some of the most enlightening exchanges I have ever had in a sober state. Corbet’s random acts of kindness ranged from taking people into his home who didn’t have anywhere to stay, to offering words ...