Not worthy of praise
I remember Robert Frost at John F. Kennedy's inauguration.That cold, blustery, sun-lit day, the 86-year-old Frost tried to read "Dedication," a poem he had written for the occasion. The wind rustled his pages and the sun glared, reflecting off the snow, making it difficult for him to see. Vice President Lyndon Johnson got up and used his top hat to block the rays, but it didn't help.
After struggling to read the poem, Frost, with what can rightly be called Yankee ingenuity, gave up the effort and instead recited from memory "The Gift Outright," a poem that was a favorite of Kennedy's.
Later, the poem Frost had planned to read, but didn't -- "Dedication" -- was published. Some said it was not among his finest work. I agree.
Others said that "The Gift Outright" -- the poem he did recite -- was not among his finest work, either. Perhaps. But with Frost, even poems that were not his best tended to outshine what other poets could muster.
Let me share the last eight lines of "Dedication."
It makes the prophet in us all presage
The glory of a next Augustan age
Of a power leading from its strength and pride,
Of young ambition eager to be tried,
Firm in our free beliefs without dismay,
In any game the nations want to play.
A golden age of poetry and power
Of which this noonday's the beginning hour.
That makes me want to run up a hill, tear open my shirt, and vow allegiance to truth, to justice, and to the American way.
Elizabeth Alexander's poem at President Obama's inauguration gave me no such feelings.
A friend of mine put it this way: "People think poetry is lame and boring, and she didn't help, did she?"
No.
If ever there was a poem crying out to be messed with, it's Alexander's inaugural poem. Here are 52 mashups of "Praise Song for the Day," courtesy of WFMU. I particularly like number 42.
Permalink for "Not worthy of praise" Posted 13 Jun 2009