Treat yourself: Bill Moyers interviews poet Nikki Giovanni

[EFerrari]

February 13, 2009

Bill Moyers sits down with renowned poet Nikki Giovanni, author of 27 books, a Grammy nominee and an Oprah Living Legend. Once dubbed the priestess of black poetry, her work has spanned the themes of love and sex, anger and grief, race, politics, and violence, and in this intimate conversation with Bill Moyers, Giovanni discusses her most recent book: BICYCLES. While many of her earlier works may have raised ire (and praise) for their revolutionary nature, she's always tackled the theme of love.

"There are a lot of books of searching, somber books born of grief. But not many books I've seen that are about love born of grief. And, yet, that's what this book is about. It's a book of love poems," says Giovanni.

The author of some 30 books for both adults and children, Nikki Giovanni is a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02132009/watch2.html

[grasswire]

1. she was amazing

I think something she said tonight may have changed my life and helped me to let go of some regrets. What a wise woman and original thinker.

[EFerrari]

4. That woman is dangerous.

lol

:hug:

[TahitiNut]

2. I think Bill Moyers' favorite poem of hers became my favorite poem of hers.

It rocked me. Truly. (And she's only two weeks older than me.)
:wow:

CHOICES

if i can't do
what i want to do
then my job is to not
do what i don't want
to do

it's not the same thing
but it's the best i can
do

if i can't have
what i want . . . then
my job is to want
what i've got
and be satisfied
that at least there
is something more to want

since i can't go
where i need
to go . . . then i must . . . go
where the signs point
through always understanding
parallel movement
isn't lateral

when i can't express
what i really feel
i practice feeling
what i can express
and none of it is equal
i know
but that's why mankind
alone among the animals
learns to cry

[EFerrari]

12. I'm not sure what happened tonight. Have to think on it.

:)

[EFerrari]

3. "Ego Tripping"

Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)

I was born in the congo
I walked to the fertile crescent and built
the sphinx
I designed a pyramid so tough that a star
that only glows every one hundred years falls
into the center giving divine perfect light
I am bad

I sat on the throne
drinking nectar with allah
I got hot and sent an ice age to europe
to cool my thirst
My oldest daughter is nefertiti
the tears from my birth pains
created the nile
I am a beautiful woman

I gazed on the forest and burned
out the sahara desert
with a packet of goat's meat
and a change of clothes
I crossed it in two hours
I am a gazelle so swift
so swift you can't catch me

For a birthday present when he was three
I gave my son hannibal an elephant
He gave me rome for mother's day
My strength flows ever on

My son noah built new/ark and
I stood proudly at the helm
as we sailed on a soft summer day
I turned myself into myself and was
jesus
men intone my loving name
All praises All praises
I am the one who would save

I sowed diamonds in my back yard
My bowels deliver uranium
the filings from my fingernails are
semi-precious jewels
On a trip north
I caught a cold and blew
My nose giving oil to the arab world
I am so hip even my errors are correct
I sailed west to reach east and had to round off
the earth as I went
The hair from my head thinned and gold was laid
across three continents

I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal
I cannot be comprehended except by my permission

I mean...I...can fly
like a bird in the sky...

[Jazzgirl]

19. Oh dayum!!!

I remember that line "I am so hip my errors are correct" so well! I was always so impressed with that one line of the poem. I haven't read this in years. Thanks!

[EFerrari]

20. This sounds like Nikki reading although I'm not sure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeIjJvMQiVU

[demmiblue]

21. That is the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread

I love this poem... it is so empowering!

[grasswire]

5. I wish I could remember....

...the name of the poem she read regarding the shining of the silver and the taking care of the household items.

[EFerrari]

6. "Give it a go"

:)

[TahitiNut]

10. ...

I like to polish
Silver
Rub the paste in
Let it set
Then shine shine shine

Even as a little girl
I loved to wash
Grandmother's crystal
Watch the light bounce
Off of the edges
Of the glasses

We were taught
Never to use clear
Fingernail polish
But trim our nails
To a respectable length
And buff them
With lamb's wool

I wipe my bathroom
Mirror after each shower
And always shine my faucet
In order to properly care for things
They must be loved
And touched

Want to give it
A go?

[grasswire]

15. thanks (eom)

[EFerrari]

7. "Will somebody please hospitalize Bill Cosby?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo9UaHN2Sic&feature=related

[EFerrari]

8. Do The Rosa Parks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWGsZ-GQEts

[EFerrari]

9. Not you, baby, not you. ( re Condi Rice)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csClroAFG-I&feature=related

[malaise]

24. That deserves its own thread

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

25. See?

lmao

[EFerrari]

26. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5054915

[EFerrari]

11. Talk to Me Poem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9HbqMzgxzg&feature=related

:kick:

[saltpoint]

13. Leave it to someone as astute and right-on as the OP to

put this confab with Giovanni and Moyers up for our consideration.

After the murderous shootings on the campus in Blacksburg a short while back, it was Giovanni who rallied the spirits of students, faculty, and alumni etc. The campus was understandably shell-shocked. Giovanni found the words and struck the right inspirational tone to bring people back to the moment.

Poets never are given credit for the inspiration they generate, or the psychic glue they always have on hand.

Giovanni is a rock star at her campus and Moyers' instincts for what's valuable and inspiring have always been sharp.

Great post. Thank you.

[grasswire]

14. and I had thought I couldn't love Bill Moyers more.

What a man. A national treasure.

[saltpoint]

17. Yes. Hi, grasswire. Bill gets it done, doesn't he.

Indispensable.

[EFerrari]

16. Very kind. I have to give up on doing anything on Friday nights

because Bill Moyers' is must see teevee. :hi:

[saltpoint]

18. Agree -- Moyers finds the things that survive and brings them

to daylight.

Moyers is America at its best. O'Reilly is what it is most of the rest of the time.


:thumbsup: :hi:

[malaise]

22. We watched her last night

Beautiful.

[EFerrari]

23. Watch the Condi Rice video.

Damn. I love this woman.