Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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

Posted on 06/10/2008 10:01:58 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: carter2; carterredux; obama; poetry
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: Flycatcher
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 . . . . .

21 posted on 06/10/2008 10:25:41 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: PghBaldy

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


22 posted on 06/10/2008 10:26:44 AM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr Ramsbotham

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


23 posted on 06/10/2008 10:30:35 AM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Angry Write Mail

LOL


24 posted on 06/10/2008 10:30:55 AM PDT by patriot08
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: littlehouse36
“CARTER II” — no doubt about it.

Best case scenario.

25 posted on 06/10/2008 10:32:25 AM PDT by shineon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Flycatcher
"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'?

26 posted on 06/10/2008 10:34:18 AM PDT by LADY J
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: PghBaldy
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!!!

27 posted on 06/10/2008 10:35:52 AM PDT by fish hawk (Silence is often misinterpreted but never misquoted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: joseph20

I think the long one was talking about his dad.


28 posted on 06/10/2008 10:36:44 AM PDT by aruanan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother
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).

29 posted on 06/10/2008 10:40:59 AM PDT by Flycatcher (Strong copy for a strong America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: aruanan

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


30 posted on 06/10/2008 10:42:14 AM PDT by joseph20 (...to ourselves and our Posterity...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

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.


31 posted on 06/10/2008 10:46:39 AM PDT by digger48 (http://prorev.com/legacy.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: LADY J
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.

32 posted on 06/10/2008 10:48:36 AM PDT by Flycatcher (Strong copy for a strong America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: henkster

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


33 posted on 06/10/2008 10:49:30 AM PDT by stevio (Crunchy Con - God, guns, guts, and organically grown crunchy nuts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Flycatcher

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.


34 posted on 06/10/2008 10:52:35 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: PghBaldy
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
35 posted on 06/10/2008 10:54:32 AM PDT by Bon mots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PGR88

That’s a very sobering observation.


36 posted on 06/10/2008 10:56:36 AM PDT by villagerjoel ("I think my brains are hanging out," he said.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: joseph20
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.

37 posted on 06/10/2008 10:59:34 AM PDT by snarkytart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Cicero
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.)

38 posted on 06/10/2008 11:03:03 AM PDT by Flycatcher (Strong copy for a strong America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: fish hawk

oops, “same” should be “save”


39 posted on 06/10/2008 11:03:30 AM PDT by fish hawk (Silence is often misinterpreted but never misquoted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: PghBaldy
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.

40 posted on 06/10/2008 11:03:50 AM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson