Books Jan 21, 2013 at 7:52 am

About That Inaugural Poet...

Cate McGehee
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Comments

1
i was lucky enough to hear him read as a guest in my class as an undergrad. he's a humble, kind, very funny man who is truly talented. i'm so happy he was chosen for this honor.
jayme on January 21, 2013 at 8:15 AM Report this
2
I just heard his poem and was moved to inner tears. What a great talent!
on January 21, 2013 at 9:32 AM Report this
3
An essay by Richard Blanco, "Making a Man Out of Me," on Huffington Post yesterday and included in Who’s Yer Daddy?: Gay Writers Celebrate Their Mentors and Forerunners, eds. Elledge J and Groff D, Terrace Books (Univ. of Wisconsin Press), Madison, WI 2012:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-bl…

http://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/4837.htm
rob! on January 21, 2013 at 9:56 AM Report this
4
Didn't James Dickey do something for Carter's inaugural?
Bauhaus I on January 21, 2013 at 10:22 AM Report this
5
I hope someone asks John Ashbery before he dies - he's at least a poet who every poet would recognize.
-w on January 21, 2013 at 2:01 PM Report this
6
In all my 77 years, I have never heard or read a poem that that touched my heart and soul. The awesome idea that we all share one sun, one sky, one moon, uncountable stars, and one planet is something too many never think of in the turmoil, confusion, busyness, complications, stressand speed of everyday life. We are all of one race, the human race.
Born in the South, proud to be an American, raised with traditions, values, morals, love and prayers, I have seen much history in my life. With faith, hope, love and optimism, I look forward to experiencing much more. My appreciation to Richard Blanco for the gift of his inspiring talent on this day.
on January 21, 2013 at 5:21 PM Report this
7
@6 deserves to be seen by more people:
In all my 77 years, I have never heard or read a poem that touched my heart and soul. The awesome idea that we all share one sun, one sky, one moon, uncountable stars, and one planet is something too many never think of in the turmoil, confusion, busyness, complications, stress and speed of everyday life. We are all of one race, the human race.

Born in the South, proud to be an American, raised with traditions, values, morals, love and prayers, I have seen much history in my life. With faith, hope, love and optimism, I look forward to experiencing much more. My appreciation to Richard Blanco for the gift of his inspiring talent on this day.

—Posted by Southern on January 21, 2013 at 5:21 PM
rob! on January 21, 2013 at 7:04 PM Report this
8
His poem was without identity. You say he explored without insulting. It felt like a check list was being covered. This poem has no soul. I bet it even bored the author to write it. POETRY LIKE THIS IS WHY PEOPLE DON'T LIKE POETRY.
on January 27, 2013 at 11:39 AM Report this
9
I loved the inaugural poem very much and listened to it over and over. The imagery and sound was beautiful. Stunning, really.

Somebody in the Stranger wrote a very unflattering, unnecessarily critical and whiney review after the fact that incensed me, and I was so angry I was prompted to write to complain but I can't find it but am happy to find this article. That reviewer wasn't qualified to recognize a good verse if it punched him/her in the fact, which it should do for being so oblivious. Thank you for appreciating and celebrating talent, Cate.
mandyv on February 4, 2013 at 9:05 PM Report this

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