Comments on: First Lady Moment Of Zen http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:42:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Obama Social Network » First Lady Michelle Obama’s Poetry Slam… I mean “Jam” http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152390 Obama Social Network » First Lady Michelle Obama’s Poetry Slam… I mean “Jam” Thu, 14 May 2009 13:02:54 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152390 [...] I saw this photo of First Lady Michelle Obama over at Oliver Willis. [...] [...] I saw this photo of First Lady Michelle Obama over at Oliver Willis. [...]

]]> By: Lonya http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152372 Lonya Thu, 14 May 2009 04:15:55 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152372 I'd start with the Last Poets (who opened my eyes more than 30 years ago) and who imo created what became rap . . . and work back in time. My favorite though is a Russian, the glorious Anna Akhmatova. This is from her Requiem Silent flows the river Don A yellow moon looks quietly on Swanking about, with cap askew It sees through the window a shadow of you Gravely ill, all alone The moon sees a woman lying at home Her son is in jail, her husband is dead Say a prayer for her instead. I’d start with the Last Poets (who opened my eyes more than 30 years ago) and who imo created what became rap . . . and work back in time.

My favorite though is a Russian, the glorious Anna Akhmatova.
This is from her Requiem

Silent flows the river Don
A yellow moon looks quietly on
Swanking about, with cap askew
It sees through the window a shadow of you
Gravely ill, all alone
The moon sees a woman lying at home
Her son is in jail, her husband is dead
Say a prayer for her instead.

]]> By: Jesse Ewiak http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152347 Jesse Ewiak Thu, 14 May 2009 01:08:20 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152347 Will I get a visit from the Secret Service if I say I'd hit that? Will I get a visit from the Secret Service if I say I’d hit that?

]]> By: News Reference http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152344 News Reference Thu, 14 May 2009 00:33:54 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152344 A Poetry Discussion In the Oddest Place. Titillating Fun From a Sultry Face. Bare Shoulder Glistens Showing Strength and Grace. A Cocked Head Listens Like Heaven's Lace. A Poetry Discussion
In the Oddest Place.

Titillating Fun
From a Sultry Face.

Bare Shoulder Glistens
Showing Strength and Grace.

A Cocked Head Listens
Like Heaven’s Lace.

]]> By: First Lady Michelle Obama’s Poetry Slam… I mean “Jam” | Barack Obama News Blog http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152329 First Lady Michelle Obama’s Poetry Slam… I mean “Jam” | Barack Obama News Blog Wed, 13 May 2009 22:33:40 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152329 [...] I saw this photo of First Lady Michelle Obama over at Oliver Willis. [...] [...] I saw this photo of First Lady Michelle Obama over at Oliver Willis. [...]

]]> By: Grumpymann http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152315 Grumpymann Wed, 13 May 2009 21:32:47 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152315 I've penned a few missives. And I must admit I enjoy the process of creating more than reading them. In High School I was given some advice about poetry by a science teacher (Of all things), he told me poetry is like music. "You won't like em all. But if you look around enough and try enough you'll find not only one you like but maybe a bunch you love." I’ve penned a few missives. And I must admit I enjoy the process of creating more than reading them.

In High School I was given some advice about poetry by a science teacher (Of all things), he told me poetry is like music.

“You won’t like em all. But if you look around enough and try enough you’ll find not only one you like but maybe a bunch you love.”

]]> By: Jay Tea http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152310 Jay Tea Wed, 13 May 2009 21:17:26 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152310 I'll pass on "The Bells," Repack. Way, way too much repetition. But I've written parodies of both "Kubla Khan" and "The Tyger." That's when you know how good a poem is -- when you have to read it over and over and over again to match rhyme and meter, line for line. The Blake parody was considerably better -- I managed to keep the theme going all the way through. Coleridge, I kinda meandered around. Ginsberg, I wouldn't touch. Way, way too complicated. Besides, I don't wanna get haunted by the ghost of Carl Solomon... J. I’ll pass on “The Bells,” Repack. Way, way too much repetition.

But I’ve written parodies of both “Kubla Khan” and “The Tyger.” That’s when you know how good a poem is — when you have to read it over and over and over again to match rhyme and meter, line for line.

The Blake parody was considerably better — I managed to keep the theme going all the way through. Coleridge, I kinda meandered around.

Ginsberg, I wouldn’t touch. Way, way too complicated. Besides, I don’t wanna get haunted by the ghost of Carl Solomon…

J.

]]> By: Repack Rider http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152306 Repack Rider Wed, 13 May 2009 21:04:16 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152306 JT, I to can recite both of those poems. Too bad Coleridge had to answer the door, as the legend goes. Add Poe's The Bells to the list. JT,

I to can recite both of those poems.

Too bad Coleridge had to answer the door, as the legend goes.

Add Poe’s The Bells to the list.

]]> By: Kelly in Indy http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152274 Kelly in Indy Wed, 13 May 2009 19:01:01 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152274 Mike in DC - you are right, I was enthralled at first with the def poetry jam on HBO, but after a while, they all started to sound exactly the same and it got tres boring. That is the most lovely picture of Ms. Obama I think I've ever seen, she is b-e-a-utiful! Mike in DC – you are right, I was enthralled at first with the def poetry jam on HBO, but after a while, they all started to sound exactly the same and it got tres boring.

That is the most lovely picture of Ms. Obama I think I’ve ever seen, she is b-e-a-utiful!

]]> By: mike in dc http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152238 mike in dc Wed, 13 May 2009 16:57:25 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152238 The only think I don't really care for about most poetry "jams" and "slams" is that everybody has now adopted the same basic delivery style. It was compelling the first 600 times I heard it, but come on guys, try something different now. The only think I don’t really care for about most poetry “jams” and “slams” is that everybody has now adopted the same basic delivery style. It was compelling the first 600 times I heard it, but come on guys, try something different now.

]]> By: Robert http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152221 Robert Wed, 13 May 2009 15:50:03 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152221 Jay Tea, wow, you named two poems I liked enough to have memorized. Tyger and Kubla Khan, that is. Yeats's The Second Coming is also good, and Ozymandias by Shelley (which is somewhat political, if you look at it right). Joe B., I think you're right - if botany was taught the way poetry is, it would be nothing but tearing flowers apart to see how they _were_ made. Nothing left when you're done but a pile of unlovely fragments. Jay Tea,
wow, you named two poems I liked enough to have memorized. Tyger and Kubla Khan, that is. Yeats’s The Second Coming is also good, and Ozymandias by Shelley (which is somewhat political, if you look at it right).
Joe B., I think you’re right – if botany was taught the way poetry is, it would be nothing but tearing flowers apart to see how they _were_ made. Nothing left when you’re done but a pile of unlovely fragments.

]]> By: I'm a Hick http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152213 I'm a Hick Wed, 13 May 2009 15:22:36 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152213 As the President said, she has the right to bare arms. As the President said, she has the right to bare arms.

]]> By: Quaker in a Basement http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152209 Quaker in a Basement Wed, 13 May 2009 15:16:11 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152209 Wuf! Cue the Villagers to tut-tut about Michelle showing some shoulder. Wuf! Cue the Villagers to tut-tut about Michelle showing some shoulder.

]]> By: Jay Tea http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152183 Jay Tea Wed, 13 May 2009 12:08:27 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152183 Forget the political crap poetry, Oliver. Force yourself to read William Blake's "The Tiger," then Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Khan." If that doesn't do it, plow your way through Allen Ginsberg's "Howl." J. Forget the political crap poetry, Oliver. Force yourself to read William Blake’s “The Tiger,” then Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Kubla Khan.”

If that doesn’t do it, plow your way through Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl.”

J.

]]> By: Joe Bourgeois http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152181 Joe Bourgeois Wed, 13 May 2009 06:02:08 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152181 Oliver - Like many people who don't like poetry, you were probably taught it badly and/or vindictively. Try reading the anthology "Poets Against the War" -- full of great writing against George's excellent adventure. Oliver -
Like many people who don’t like poetry, you were probably taught it badly and/or vindictively.
Try reading the anthology “Poets Against the War” — full of great writing against George’s excellent adventure.

]]> By: jr http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152180 jr Wed, 13 May 2009 06:00:25 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152180 Lovely Lovely

]]> By: Malacandra http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152179 Malacandra Wed, 13 May 2009 05:58:44 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152179 Wow. What a FLILF! Wow. What a FLILF!

]]> By: News Reference http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/05/13/first-lady-moment-of-zen/#comment-152174 News Reference Wed, 13 May 2009 04:30:32 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/?p=14618#comment-152174 Not a fan. But that's the nicest photo I've ever seen of her. Not a fan.

But that’s the nicest photo I’ve ever seen of her.

]]>