Alexander’s poem: an explication

There is also explication posted on Daniel Klotz’s website.   At times, he seems to belabor the obvious:

Allusion abounds. Many of the images are poignant
because they call up greater significance in our minds.
“Picked the cotton,” for instance, is about much more
than just any person in any field picking any cotton.
It alludes to our national history and to racial disunity
that continues to permeate our culture.

Aside from that quibble, he presents a good read. It might be very worthwhile to include this in a secondary school poetry class.

Alexander’s poem critiqued

I’ve seen some ungenerous reviews of Alexander’s poem on the web.

Obama Inaugural Poet Elizabeth Alexander Gets D Minus in Poetry Composition

Adam Kirsch on Elizabeth Alexander’s Bureaucratic Verse at The New Republic.

and another on the London Times that I can’t seem to find the link for.

Elizabeth Alexander’s poem

The full text, with lineation is on the New York Times website.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Elizabeth Alexander’s poem, as I’m sure a lot of other poets have. It is a remarkable and rare moment that poetry gets any kind of public attention, at least in the US.

It was extremely accessible piece.  It left me wondering how close a poem could be to ordinary speech without ceasing to be a poem. 

I don’t think the inauguration would have been a good place to trot out poetic pyrotechnics, what Mary Leader once simply summed up as “fancy.” 

Another problem with presenting a poem before millions is nuance and ambiguity, hyperbole, any of which might make for an interesting poem, but leave an audience puzzled or offended. 

Is the Washington Mall the place to read any good poem?

added a new site: Sarah Moore

Sarah Moore, shares poems and photographs here on her blog My World in Words.

added a new site: Isaac Hopkins

Isaac Hopkins shares his work on his blog, IHOP Unpublished.

added a new site: moontowncafe.com

 Moontown Cafe, blog featuring a radio show, poetry discussion area and poetry contests.