Inaugural Poem * by Elizabeth Alexander

UPDATE: Here, courtesy of RCH, is the poet's version of the poem, with line breaks: Praise Song for the Day. This version, though, is copywrighted, so I don't feel comfortable posting it here -- even though it seems to me that this poem, of any, should belong to any of us.

So below is the transcript from the New York Times:

* ~ *

Praise Song for the Day

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."

We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

* ~ *

This is from the NYT transcript; I don't know whether the poet's own version has more line breaks. It may.

Already I've seen that some find it too prosaic; they wanted something with more grandeur. I quite like it.

What do you think?

Comments

[nancy Simpson]

I am a long time practicing poet. I'm used to hearing poetry. I was not disappointed.
Parts of the poem moved me. What irritates me no end is that the New York Times version, which is so far the only copy we have before us, does not honor line breaks.
I want to see the line breaks. Is that too much to ask?

www.nancysimpson.blogspot.com

[Erik Eblana]

I agree with Nancy Simpson, it's so important for publishers to honour line breaks and design.
Also, poems are there to be spoken, performd I guess, so perhaps Elizabeth Alexander was a little nervous (I'm always nervous reading my poems at a jam) or perhaps sheshine best with the written word -a lot of great poets are not great speakers/orators.

www.erikeblana.blogspot.com

[sbpoet]

I was tempted to guess at the line breaks myself. The meter is quite strong, so it may be possible -- but I assume we'll have the poet's version soon. When we do, I'll post that.

I think, really, that this is a nearly unmeetable challenge, to write a poem for such an occasion. Especially following this speaker.

[RCH]

I found this at msnbc.com -- it is the publisher's version and so (I presume) includes the author's intended line breaks.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28755895/

I don't think any more grandeur is called for; I like that the poem dignifies and elevates the ordinary. There's only one line that sniggles at me (what if the mightiest word is love?) because it feels ... I don't know, cheesy? When what comes before and after that line certainly aren't.... But that's just me. Overall I love the poem and think it suits the moment quite well. :-)

[Daniel]

I've been pretty vocal in expressing my distaste for the poem. She included some great lines and good images, but I don't think it quite fit the occasion. She was up against a real challenge following the great oration of Obama, yes, but I don't think we can make excuses for poets ("she must've been nervous") without demeaning them and their work. Do we let Chief Justice Robert's slip-up in the oath slide because we think he may have been "nervous"? We can look back and see that Robert Frost and Maya Angelou did a great job with this rare opportunity for poetry to take a prominent role in our cultural life.

[Norma]

She's been nominated for Stuffed Owl II if it ever appears.