If you want to both watch the video and read the poem, go to Ed Byrne's blog.
I'm among those hoping this would be a chance for large numbers of non poets to see that poetry has a strong voice and was disappointed in the reading. Where do you weigh in on the inaugural poem?
The link opens in a separate window, so you can read there and leave reactions both on his blog and here, if you like.
Pris
8 comments:
To be honest, I much preferred the benediction of the inaugural ceremony, as it seemed far more poetic to me.
Also, I felt it was far better read than the poem was.
But those are just my thoughts on this.
Hope that you and yours are doing all right, that things are going okay, and that today goes all right for you all.
Hugs. *HG*
God bless and take care. :).
Olga/Maddie
I liked the poem, and I'm really dismayed at the vitriol and out-right bitchiness in the blogosphere about Alexander and her poem.
Hi Olga
I didn't hear the benediction.
Collin
I still don't like the poem that much, though I like other poems of hers I've read. I honestly think it, like all poetry , is a matter of individual preferences. To not like it is one thing. To be nasty about it is another. I agree with you on that.
I don't care for it. No bad feelings or vitriol, just indifference to what I perceive as a mediocre poem that was lifted to the lofty position of inaugural poem -- a poem I would have liked to have been crazy-in-love with but which leaves me unmoved to hate or love.
I posted a link to it on my blog, to promote the whole idea of inaugural poetry (the tradition of Presidential inauguration poetry is an intermittent one.) I would have happily posted the poem itself if I could have mustered some kind of liking for it.
I agree with Collin. And I called Kay Byer on it. No need for poets to attack one another over this.
I've seen a lot of poets discussing the poem. What I haven't seen is non poetry writers watching the inaugural voicing any reactions to it. Some poems stir the public imagination, such as the one read in Four Wedding and a Funeral. I have a friend who never reads poetry but who can quote by memory two older poems he loved. If anyone sees such a discussion I'd love to see it. I honestly wouldn't expect to find vitrol there..more either 'it moved me' or no special reaction at all.
There were parts of the poem I did like and other parts, that kind of drifted off on the wind.
I do think it was too long to hold the crowds attention to the very end of it.
I admire the poet for reading aloud in front of such a mammoth audience...she did well.
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