Category Archives: Poetry

Poetry Wednesday 03/11/09: Three Poems by Barack Obama

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The Poetry of Barack Obama, the next president of the United States. Published: May 18, 2008 New York Times Following are two poems by Barack Obama that were published in the Spring 1981 issue of “Feast,” a 51-page student literary journal that described itself as “a semi-annual journal of short poetry and fiction collected from the Occidental College community.” The journal is no longer published, according to a college spokesman.   . Pop by Barack Obama Sitting in his seat, a seat broad and broken … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 04/22/09: The White Dawn

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Elaine by Herbert Gustav Schmalz (1856-1935) Oil on canvas The White Dawn By Charles Van Lerberghe (1861-1907) (Translated from French) The white dawn says to my dream: “Wake up, the sun is shining.” My soul listens and I raise my eyelids slightly towards it. A ray of light touches the pale flower of my blue eyes. A flame awakens my mouth, a breeze awakens my hair. And my soul, like a rose, trembling slowly all day through, wakes to the beauty of things, as my … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 04/22/09: The Best Thing in the World

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Choosing, 1864 by George Frederic Watts, (1817 – 1904) Oil on canvas The Best Thing in the World by Elizabeth Barrett Browning What’s the best thing in the world? June-rose, by May-dew impearled; Sweet south-wind, that means no rain; Truth, not cruel to a friend; Pleasure, not in haste to end; Beauty, not self-decked and curled Till its pride is over-plain; Light, that never makes you wink; Memory, that gives no pain; Love, when, so, you’re loved again. What’s the best thing in the world? … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 05/20/09: Paramahansa Yogananda

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Paramahansa Yogananda was a practitioner of Kriya Yoga who recorded his spiritual journey in the classic work “Autobiography of a Yogi”.It is a classic book that was first written in 1946, and has been continually rediscovered by people all over the world for many years. Basically, it is one of the few books in English about the wise men of India, and it is written about yogis by a yogi. You can find copies of this book in the following languages: English, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday: 05/20/09: Poetry Slam at the White House

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The singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding, with Eric Lewis on piano, at the White House. Live From D.C., It’s Tuesday Night Jam ! By MIKE HALE Published: May 13, 2009 The Obamas hosted a program of jazz and poetry at the White House last Tuesday, “We’re here to celebrate the power of words and music to help us appreciate beauty and also to understand pain,” Obama told the audience.   “An Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word” — held in the East Room … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 05/27/09: Let Us Have Faith

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Let Us Have Faith by Helen Keller (1940) Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable. In 1893, when she was 13, Helen wrote what she described as “a word picture of … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 05/27/09: Ode on Intimations of Immortality

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They say that no matter how old you get, you never forget your first love. One of my favorite movies growing up was Splendor in the Grass. It was made in 1961. This intriquing play is a tragic, coming-of-age melodrama from Pulizer Prize winning playwright William Inge’s original screenplay. It was Inge’s first story written directly for the screen and he received a nomination (and the film’s sole Oscar) for the best original story and screenplay for his work. The time period for the story … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 06/17/09: Jazzonia

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Blues by Jesse Reisch Jazzonia By Langston Hughes Oh, silver tree! Oh, shining rivers of the soul!  In a Harlem cabaret Six long-headed jazzers play. A dancing girl whose eyes are bold Lifts high a dress of silken gold. Oh, singing tree! Oh, shining rivers of the soul! Were Eve’s eyes In the first garden Just a bit too bold? Was Cleopatra gorgeous In a gown of gold? Oh, shining tree! Oh, silver rivers of the soul! In a whirling cabaret Six long-headed jazzers play. … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 07/08/09: Cabaret

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Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Barney Bighard star in “New Orleans”, 1947 New Orleans was a 1947 musical drama featuring Billie Holiday as a singing maid and Louis Armstrong as a bandleader; Holiday and Armstrong perform together and portray a couple becoming romantically involved. During one song, Armstrong’s character introduces the members of his band, a virtual Who’s Who of classic jazz greats, including trombonist Kid Ory, drummer Zutty Singleton, clarinetist Barney Bighard, guitar player Bud Scott, bassist George “Red” Callendar, pianist Charlie Beal, and … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 06/24/09: When Malindy Sings

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  When Malindy Sings by Paul Laurence Dunbar G’WAY an’ quit dat noise, Miss Lucy — Put dat music book away; What’s de use to keep on tryin’? Ef you practise twell you’re gray, You cain’t sta’t no notes a-flyin’ Lak de ones dat rants and rings F’om de kitchen to be big woods When Malindy sings. You ain’t got de nachel o’gans Fu’ to make de soun’ come right, You ain’t got de tu’ns an’ twistin’s Fu’ to make it sweet an’ light. Tell … Continue reading →