Inaugural Poem Update: Elizabeth Alexander

Posted by chris carroll
on January 20, 2009M at 4:01 pm

I’ve read some online reactions to Elizabeth Alexander’s inaugural poem, “Praise Song for the Day,” and national opinion already seems to be as divided on it as with actual pressing political issues.  Alexander has been alternately praised or criticized for her deliberate reading style and unadorned language.  (Video here.)

Entertainment Weekly’s website features an online forum of reactions to the poem, and the Time Magazine site has a short Q & A with Alexander who spoke about her creative process.  Salon.com featured an interesting story about Alexander’s particular challenge in crafting an “occasional poem” and the place of poetry in our political history. 

I thought the poem really gathered momentum toward its moving conclusion. Alexander’s measured reading of it in front of a crowd at least a million strong provided a moment of reflection almost as beautiful as the version of “Simple Gifts” played by the all-star classical quartet a few minutes earlier.

Still, perhaps my favorite moment of the inaugural festivities was wheelchair-bound former Vice President Cheney’s unfortunate homage to Dr. Strangelove. 



Categorized under:
elizabeth alexander, poetry, presidential inauguration

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Comments
Comment by Mike Licht on January 21, 2009 @ 7:25 am

How did Dick Cheney really hurt his back?

See http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/cheney-on-wheels/

Comment by chris carroll on January 21, 2009 @ 12:34 pm

Thanks for the great link, Mike. Someone also pointed out to me that Cheney really resembled The Big Lebowski yesterday:

http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/1/2/8/4/22774821-22774823-large.jpg

It will probably take a truly dedicated “Little Lebowski Urban Achiever” to get the real story out of Cheney’s archives.

Comment by Morris Richardson on January 21, 2009 @ 1:30 pm

The Dr. Strangelove and Big Lebowski comparisons are on point. I stand by my Henry F. Potter (”It’s A Wonderful Life”) observation. I have to admit that I haven’t a fully formed opinion of the poem at this point. I want to revisit it and enjoy it, however, on first impression I was underwhelmed and uninspired. Of course, Obama is a hard act to follow (even when slightly staggered by a John Roberts sucker punch).

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