Obamas To Host Poetry Jam At White House

[BlueJessamine]

Source: CBS News

This evening, the president and first lady will host what Michelle Obama's press office describes as "an evening celebrating poetry, music and the spoken word in the East Room of the White House."

That's right: The first family is hosting a poetry jam.

Guests for the event include James Earl Jones, novelist Michael Chabon, jazz singer Esperanza Spalding, pianist Eric Lewis and Lin-Manuel Miranda, star of Broadway's "In The Heights." It will be streamed live beginning at 7:45 pm ET at http://www.whitehouse.gov/.

In December, Mr. Obama said he and his wife planned to "open up the White House and remind people this is the people's house." He specifically said he would host performances of jazz and classical music as well as poetry readings.

The Obama White House has previously hosted concerts from Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and others.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/12/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5009017.shtml

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Here, via the New York Times, is a poem by President Obama that was published in the Spring 1981 issue of Occidental College poetry and fiction journal “Feast.” It is entitled "Underground."

Under water grottos, caverns
Filled with apes
That eat figs.
Stepping on the figs
That the apes
Eat, they crunch.
The apes howl, bare
Their fangs, dance,
Tumble in the
Rushing water,
Musty, wet pelts
Glistening in the blue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/us/politics/18poems.html

[LisaM]

1. I'm glad they support and celebrate the arts

I didn't see what poets they are having. There are a lot of good poets publishing these days.

[billyoc]

2. I broke my leg, I cannot pay

The other one's crooked anyway.




:hi:

[Poll_Blind]

3. "...remind people this is the people's house."

I was going to respond to the article but then I hit that bit in quotes and I just got hung up on it. The People's House. After 8 fucking years of Bush and a lot more gray hairs on my head, just hearing a president expressing that sentiment (and meaning it) kinda chokes me up. Silly, I know, but there we are.

[MilesColtrane]

4. Yay, for Esperanza!

I hope this helps her sell a lot of CDs.

She's a real talent among all the plastic Idols™ out there.

[Bankhead_ATL]

10. I love that woman!!!!!

Will you marry me?????

[jennied]

5. Oh god, I looooove poetry. I'll definitely be watching this.

I've watched nearly every season of Def Poetry. Hopefully they'll have some pretty cool poets like the ones on that show there. I love love love this because poetry is dying. Hopefully this will open some more eyes to poetry, especially to those that wouldn't normally read or listen to poetry.

[LisaM]

8. I hope they have poets of ALL ages and genres

there are plenty of older poets who have struggled for years. It would be nice to see them in the spotlight, too.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Hey, glad they are hanging with the likes of James Earl

and Michael Chabon. Such company can only help.

[LuckyLib]

7. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote and stars in the Broadway hit, "In the Heights"

is amazing. If you haven't heard the soundtrack from this immigrant story/NYC. The show was stunning, the music amazing, and LMM will do Latino NY proud!

[defendandprotect]

9. Let's hope HOMELESS, IMPOVERISHED/CHILDREN will be mentioned . . .!!!

[jennied]

11. Hmm, anyone else watching this and getting a bunch of static? What the heck!

[LuckyLib]

12. Was it on PBS? When Stevie Wonder was at the WH, PBS did it "live"

and the audio was completed messed up. Basically the primary vocal mikes were down, but the band mikes worked. I called my PBS station and ranted, and they said that there was a new sound system being developed and this was its first try out. Can you imagine "trying out" the feed on a national program and having it go haywire? Wonder if this is the same story. The WH entertainment venue audio feed to television is in trouble!