Today’s challenge to the poet Elizabeth Alexander was even greater than previous poets who’d been asked to write verse for an inaugural day. Read the full post.
Jan 20
2009
05:56 PM ET
President Obama the poet, and the inauguration poem
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The delivery was bad. A shame, because it worked against her themes.
I found the poem to be more of a dirge than celebration of new consciousness. Her delivery, albeit free verse, lacked any “sparkle” and had no musicality. I thought the reading was poor.
Very poor reading of a mediocre poem. Her voice was monotone and the way she halted between every single word was grating. No flow, no rhythm, no emotion. The language and imagery itself was pedestrian. I was looking forward to it, but I turned off the TV before she was finished.
why do Democrat presidents love bad poetry so much? weird.
It’s too bad that people think the reading is ‘flat.’
Alexander knows how the poem is should sound because she wrote it – she hears it in her head the way she wrote it to be read.
I interpreted it as calm and matter-of-fact, a great choice for Obama’s inauguration.
I’m looking all over for the poem. I loved it and I think it will expand its appeal once we see it in print.
I have no idea if the poem was any good or not because I couldn’t focus on anything but the poor delivery. It felt like she was so afraid of speaking too fast she concentrated on saying…every…single…word. I thought poetry was supposed to sound musical. Because of the way she delivered it, it sounded choppy. Too bad.
Come on – this is the best they could do? Uninspiring, just like the rest of the show.
Delivery was perfect. Really helped me to get the meaning of her poem. Great poem.
Loved the poem itself / hated her delivery. It was monotone and choppy.
I enjoyed her poem, and Rev. Lowery’s benediction was a fine counterpoint to her delivery.
I’m glad Elizabeth Alexander took the time to shine today.
This was dumb. I actually had to turn away from the TV while she was talking.
Mumbo-Jumbo on both accounts–just about what I expected.
How lovely was her “still, small voice…” How true, how strong, how perceptive, how faithful.
I loved it…her simple words created very complex and detailed pictures for me.
No way compares to ‘On the pulse of morning’ by Maya Angelou, but do appreciate the fact that President Obama chose to have a poem read!