Obama's poem. Eh.
What was up with that tepid poem that followed Obama's inaugural speech? I had to switch off the radio, at this line "A woman and her son wait for the bus." It was such a let down. I expected a rising tempo, a heartfelt celebration. And got people waiting for the bus and kids taking out pencils.
Eh.
I'm sure Elizabeth Alexander is a fine person and admirable poet, but still, was Maya Angelou busy?
I can still remember Clinton's inauguration in 1993 with crystal clarity, down to what I was seeing out of the car windshield as a hurtled down Interstate 60 in Moreno Valley headed for who knows where. It was memorable not because of anything anyone said, and not because of Clinton, but because of Angelou's "On the Pulse of the Morning" which was the most exciting part of the morning.
Wouldn't have Angelou's "Stilll I Rise" been perfect for today?
You may shoot me with your words,You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise
I agree completely. This was the one mediocre note. But, let's admit that any poet would have had a tough time following President Obama. I think he is our best political writer since Lincoln and the best creater of words in English since Winston Churchill.
I'd also like to add that despite my strong feeling of how inappropriate the choice of anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-stem cell Rev Rick Warren was; he did a fine job. His invocation used phrases translated directly from Hebrew Scriptures and the Quran. He prayed, appropriately for him in the name of Jesus (in 4 languages including Arabic, but not Hebrew) and not Christ. It was a graceful performance.
However, Rev. Lowery stole the show with his benediction. Wow!
All in all, the poet never had a chance!