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
- Comments 309
- Add comment
Latest News
- 'Two and a Half Men' moving to Thursday
- 'Walking Dead': Big plans for Comic-Con
- 'Grey's': Watch six minutes of the finale
- 'NCIS' tops Tuesday ratings; 'Talent' dips
- Tom Cruise: 'Playboy' interview highlights
- 'Dictator' sent Seacrest a new jacket
- '90210' season finale shocker: Really?!
- 'Anchorman II': Teaser poster art revealed
**the beginning of this comment is posted below**
What can any average American do that would make a difference, and why would they want to? With all these questions and many more raised, it begins to seem plausible that the very base of humanity spreads from questions, rather than answers, as any one of these questions may be interlocked with another one to find new meaning in the words of the poem or new meaning in life. Yet through all this, one must focus on the main idea of the poem: what does it all mean? From the poem, one thought is that maybe song means love, that the day is important because that is what makes up the life of every living being, and that every day cannot go on without someone giving back or loving someone or something. If this is the case, then praise love for life, praise love for the struggles that have brought America its current life, and praise love for everything in America’s bright, new future life.
This poem talks much about people and what they do, what their natural behavior is. It also talks about different subjects that relate to Earth, and people. Elizabeth Alexander doesn’t go into depth in these subjects, but she does get the concept across. She is able to bring into her poem the realities of future, past, and present. She brings Obama into her poem, the new President, and how many have died,hoping that this day would come, that a black man would finally become President. The poem truly made the inaugural a special day in history.
The poem starts out as describing humans as nothing but loud and unaware. This is very true in the opinion of many, human beings are only consumers, destroying everything. Later in the poem, individual events are described to show specifics and that there are also calm, peaceful moments in life.In the world right now, we have to stop being comsumers, and start to enjoy and be thankful for calm moments such as these. The poem also discusses our nature of always wanting to find something new and better. There are also references to slavery and self sacrifice in the poem, talking about how they gave their lives for this day and this inauguration of an african-american president. This could also be a reference to war, thanking those who died fighting for our freedom and for the country.
Elizabeth Alexander talks about people fixing and repairing things that are used everyday. Repairing could be symbolizing how people from all walks of life are now inspired to come together, and help make America what is used to be before all the problems. Elizabeth discusses the people who died trying to make this country free, so that we could witness this historical event. She talks about all the people who built this country, grew the crops, and established America. Alexander says that love could conquer all, and that since all people are coming together in peace to see Obama sworn in, they are not at war; the world was at a standstill, in awe of seeing Barack Obama, half white half African-American, become the President; something that they thought couldn’t be done. The last line of this poem states, “On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp – praise song for walking forward in that light.” She speaks of a symbolic light of opportunity. Obama is that light, opportunity, & promise.
At first glance, this poem gives the reader a sense of some deeper meaning, but makes it hard to grasp. Only after careful reflection can one even begin to extract it. It has a sense of structure, but this too, is clouded by seeming disorganization. This perception can be overcome if one takes the time to consider the poem in its entirety. Part of the poem brings to our attention the simple things that happen every day, but are never really considered; things like darning a hole, waiting for the bus or a teacher saying “Take out you pencils. Begin.” At the same time it also discusses things more intangible, like the ideals people live by, and the realization that any sentence can be started at any time. It makes the listener ponder what they may never have considered before in any great detail. It highlights the simplicity, as well as the complexity of the world, and of life.
As I was listening to Ms. Alexander’s rendition of her work, I couldn’t help comparing it to Maya Angelou’s poem for Clinton’s 1993 Inauguration. With her booming voice, powerful presence, and majesty of verse, Ms. Angelou took my breath away. Ms. Alexanders words are beautiful but I think her poetry would have been better served by an orator.
UTube has a video of Ms. Angelou’s inaugural presentation which always lifts my spirits and speaks to my heart.
I found the both the poem and the delivery extremely moving.
It was the simplicity that touched my heart – so difficult in those over-powering circumstances.
Oh my. What an incredibly bad poem, with a horrendous delivery. I was nearly transfixed as watching a train wreck. But moments later, it became so painful to watch, that I had to mute my television. Awful. The man who followed her however, took the awkward post-poetry moment, and did exactly what she could not do–he inspired people with his mesmerizing words. The poet? I’m sure she’s a lovely person, but I have to wonder about the judgment of Yale’s hiring committee.
All I know is that I work at a big biotherapeutic company in Clayton NC and I endroce Barack Obama with all my energy. I encourage all my friends and colleagues to vote for Obama in 2012!! I LOVE YOU OBAMA