Horizon

If all those poets agree that most American poets are Democrats and that Bush would have had a hard time finding someone, maybe it's true. What exactly makes that hard to believe?

The writer refers to his circle of poet-friends, which may or may not represent all poets, but must include all those who fit their definition of a poet.

There's this quote from James Cummins, 'What's the point of reading a poem to a bunch of Republicans, anyway? I mean, it's not like they're going to get it.'

This is just more of the same 'Republicans are stupid' baloney one hears at the Hibernian Hall.

That comment and similar notwithstanding, I find it very hard to believe that all of those poets, some of whom are big "American poetry" boosters and active in that scene, are so ideologically biased as to subscribe to a definition of "poet" which excludes Republicans altogether.

Note that I'm talking about the claim that there are not many (any?) Republican poets of sufficient stature to read at a presidential inauguration. Is it true? I don't know, I'd be just as happy to see proof either way.

On the other hand, the blithe claim that Republicans are stupid is manifestly not worth discussing.

I typed "Republican poet" into google and found this. Haven't looked closely at it, but it appears to be a blog for specifically Republican poets. See particularly this article, in which can be found: "In recent weeks, I have become the token Republican poet."

The next example I could find in the hits from that search string was this.

On the other hand, "Democrat poet"'s third hit is an article which notes that Langston Hughes was a Communist. Of course that only showed up because Kerry quoted him, but it's still kind of suggestive.

Interestingly, the bulk of the politically oriented hits for both queries appeared to be pretty far right.

For whatever that's worth.

Not sure that Poets for the War would strike the tone Mr. Bush would be looking for. He could have gone for a cowboy poet, but Karl Rove would have likely talked him out of it.

Found Maya Angelou's '93 inaugural poem. Doesn't sound like a Bush favorite...

The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me, the
Rock, the River, the Tree, your country.

Then there's Frost's The Gift Outright in '61:

The land was ours before we were the land's.
She was our land more than a hundred years
Before we were her people. She was ours
In Massachusetts, in Virginia.
But we were England's, still colonials,
Possessing what we still were unpossessed by,
Possessed by what we now no more possessed.
Something we were withholding made us weak.
Until we found out that it was ourselves
We were withholding from our land of living,
And forthwith found salvation in surrender.
Such as we were we gave ourselves outright
(The deed of gift was many deeds of war)
To the land vaguely realizing westward,
But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced,
Such as she was, such as she would become.

That doesn't seem especially Democratic. A little heavy on the possessing and the possessed and the unpossessing.

B. Farouk said:

'Do Democrats have a better ear for poetry than Republicans? Nonsense.'

You'll get short shrift here with that attitude young Bob. Why don't you remember the debate at abg-o where it was claimed by Martha that Lefties have a better sense of humour?

I guess Ezra Pound missed his moment.

Pound did jail time. Can't have that. But Eliot might have worked out.

IMHO Eliot, for all his conservative, high church, monarchist ways, wouldn't have had much time for Dubya and the Wal-Martists.

'I guess Ezra Pound missed his moment.'

Which is the reading-the-guardian-in-upmarket-coffee-shop version of michael-moore-jack-ass-tv-dopehead: GEORGE BUSH IS JUST A F*&^$$$ING FAAAASCIST MAAN!

"...Presiding General (quickly): All right! All right! No need to spell it out..."

Well if you were a little closer to Westphalia (or Basingstoke for that matter) you might have a clearer idea of what a fascist is...

Basingstoke, my dear sir, Basingstoke.

Out of this collection, Mr. Pound could have read "Sestina: Altaforte." And we could have answered with "Ancient Music": "Lhude sing Goddamm!"

Christ what a dodge. Reminds me of all the dodges on abg-o.

'Basingstoke, my dear sir, Basingstoke.'

In case you're not being obtuse, I meant geographically.

Mr. Pound could have read "Sestina: Altaforte."

Hell grant soon we hear again the swords clash!
And the shrill neighs of destriers in battle rejoicing,
Spiked breast to spiked breat opposing!
Better one hour's stour than a year's peace
With fat boards, bawds, wine and frail music!
Bah! there's no wine like the blood's crimson!

I suspect we rarely hear from poets at inaugurations because it's difficult for a big shot to share the stage with anyone. No doubt Bush thinks of himself as the national poet:

We have seen our vulnerability
and we have seen its deepest source.

For as long as whole regions of the world
Simmer in resentment and tyranny
- prone to ideologies that feed
hatred and excuse murder -
violence will gather, and multiply
in destructive power, and cross
the most defended borders,
and raise a mortal threat.

There is only one force of history
that can break the reign of hatred and resentment,
and expose the pretensions of tyrants,
and reward the hopes
of the decent and tolerant,

and that is the force

of human freedom...

...And as hope kindles hope,
millions more will find it.

By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well
- a fire in the minds of men.
It warms those who feel its power,
it burns those who fight its progress,
and one day this untamed fire of freedom
will reach the darkest corners of our world.

All I can say is, I hope they stop Iran getting Nukes!!

Bush's speechwriters, that is.

To Robbie -- I was paraphrasing Ruddigore.

To Robbie -- I was paraphrasing Ruddigore.

I haven't got round to it yet-only heard the overture which is quite fun.

Ruddigore doesn't have the greatest of Mr. Sullivan's music but it has a nice visual effect, when the portraits of the Bad Barons of Ruddigore come to life.

Our amateur company in Massachusetts did it by displaying the Barons' portraits painted on scrims, then changing the lighting to show actors standing in the same poses behind the painted images. The actors did have to step out sideways then, but the "portraits come to life" moment was adequately thrilling, especially since we used a fog machine. (At dress rehearsal the Barons were revealed wearing gas masks.)

I guess you know the story about someone asking Gilbert how his opera "Bloodygore" was going. He said that wasn't the name, it was called "Ruddigore."
--"But that's the same thing, isn't it?"
- "No, that's like saying that admiring your ruddy complexion, which I do, is the same thing as liking your bloody cheek, which I don't."

Oh, never mind, then. Comic timing was slower then, OK?

I was going to say: how the hell have you seen it? I have a look for it on cd now and again when in the classic section at hmv. G and S's works are bit like rock and roll albums by the same band in the way your faves change. I got into them purely by buying a 20p record of the patter songs in a charity shop a few years back. Then I thought the Mikado was the best, then I thought Pinafore was and now have settled on Pirates of Penzance.
What about Gilbert's thing of being mistaken for a comissionaire and being asked by a man to call him a conveyance and saying: 'You're a cab sir and not a hansom one' or something like that.
Also, many critics said Ruddigore was not as good as the Mikado and Gilbert, indignant, thought they should henceforward bill it: Ruddicore: Not As Good As The Mikado. Crazy name, crazy guy! Did you see Topsy Turvy?

I've seen Ruddigore in a very competently done student production. The story's not bad, but the songs are unmemorable.

Yes, I saw an amateur version of the show repeatedly from inside the orchestra pit but now can't remember a single tune from it.

well about maya angelou's poem, inaugural poem, what does it mean then? does it have anything to do with bush or being a democrat or republican?