The Poetry of Barack Obama

The New York Times ^ | May 18 | Barack Obama/NY Times

[PghBaldy]

Following are two poems by Barack Obama that were published in the Spring 1981 issue of “Feast,” a 51-page student literary journal that described itself as "a semi-annual journal of short poetry and fiction collected from the Occidental College community.” The journal is no longer published, according to a college spokesman.

[AnAmericanMother]

I don't even like Roethke in the original.

But ALL teenage poetry is derivative. The relative badness of it depends on what you decided to imitate . . . . at least I had the sense to imitate Kipling and the Scottish border ballads -- forms that don't require much actual work . . . . I can still toss off a Kipling parody when required . . . . .

[PGR88]

Good Lord, now we will have to listen MSM twits gush about his poetry.

[PGR88]

So at the age in life when John McCain was flying A-4’s into SAM fire for his country and rotting in a Vietnamese hell-hole, Barry was smoking pot and doing coke on the beach in Hawaii and composing poetry.

Hmmmmmm

[patriot08]

LOL

[shineon]

“CARTER II” — no doubt about it.

Best case scenario.

[LADY J]

"My, oh, my... Theodore Roethke (”My Papa's Waltz”) is rolling over in his grave right now from a whiff of that rancid knock-off. And, yes, I'm saying it is a knock-off (and a godawful one)."

Is there a link to read 'My Papa's Waltz'?

[fish hawk]

OBAMA'S SPEACH

I speak as I sink
errrr ahhh errr
this speech doth stink
where was I, uhmmmmm
I'm really not that dumb
the teleprompter quit
and I'm stuck with my wit
so bear with me here
don't look at my ear
(this speech is pure hell
come same me Michelle!!!

[aruanan]

I think the long one was talking about his dad.

[Flycatcher]

I don't even like Roethke in the original.

Say it ain't so!

I really think Roethke's "My Papa's Waltz" is one of the most beautiful works of literature of the 20th century. It's a very simple poem, composed in common, simple language with simple rhymes and simple meters, yet it addresses the complicated ambivalence of a son's love for his (possibly brutal) father. Judging by your handle, you're a woman, and might not fully understand the father/son theme, but it's a popular theme among great poets.

For a different take, try e. e. cummings' "My Father Moved Through Dooms of Love." It's another masterpiece (and it was cummings' personal favorite as well).

[joseph20]

So add -incestual-patricidal to the end of my description.

[digger48]

I’m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see,
I’m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see.
When I kill all the whities I see, then whitey he won’t bother me,
I’m gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see.

[Flycatcher]

Is there a link to read 'My Papa's Waltz'?

It's a fairly short poem that should be found on any Roethke website (I would think). But I don't have any link info for you on me right now. I'm at work at the moment — and I'm working very hard right now too. :)

There's no doubt in my mind that our young Mr. Obama read this poem and tried to make it his own. He didn't succeed.

[stevio]

You and me maybe, but the left loves this kind of stuff. This crap just might short circuit their collective brain.

[Cicero]

Actually, I kind of like it. Some of Roethke is pretty pretentious, but this one is really quite good—if awful to consider a kid being brought up like that.

I think less of Obama’s poem.

My Papa’s Waltz

The whiskey on your breath
Could make a small boy dizzy;
But I hung on like death:
Such waltzing was not easy.

We romped until the pans
Slid from the kitchen shelf;
My mother’s countenance
Could not unfrown itself.

The hand that held my wrist
Was battered on one knuckle;
At every step you missed
My right ear scraped a buckle.

You beat time on my head
With a palm caked hard by dirt,
Then waltzed me off to bed
Still clinging to your shirt.

[Bon mots]

[villagerjoel]

That’s a very sobering observation.

[snarkytart]

His poems sounds like a weird homosexual-homicidal mixture.
__________________

Not surprised. I have NO CLUE of any rumor, but my gaydar hit's a level 8 out of 10 when I see Obama.

[Flycatcher]

Yes, Roethke definitely had a tough hand in life. He suffered from manic-depression so severely that he had to receive electric shock therapy for many years. But at least he was able to capture one happy moment of his fairly short, unhappy life.

And that's what a great poet can do. (Sorry, Barack.)

[fish hawk]

oops, “same” should be “save”

[fso301]

Pop takes another shot, neat, Points out the same amber Stain on his shorts that I’ve got on mine, and Makes me smell his smell, coming From me;

Not a pretty visual image.