Category Archives: Poetry

Original poetry & commentary on poetry

Elizabeth Alexander: Praise Song for the Obama Inaugural

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Richard Guzman

As the 2012 election nears—yet another historic one, most say—I think about Elizabeth Alexander, the poet who read her poem “Praise Song for the Day” on January 20, 2009, at the Inaugural of President Barack Obama. The perils of writing … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Writers, Diversity & Multiculturalism, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Neckties”

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Richard Guzman

        — for Raja Rao   A thousand years old at birth, he kicked up the dust of Vedic sages wherever he walked. The molecules of air they had exhaled swarmed to him like gnats. He breathed … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, World Writers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sterling Plumpp salutes Von Freeman

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Richard Guzman

Von Freeman, one of Chicago’s titanic tenors, passed away this August, and his passing brought to mind the most beautiful lines ever written about him: “Be-Bop is precise clumsiness.       Awkward lyricism       under a feather’s control. A world in a crack. … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz History, Music & Meaning, Poetry, Reviews & Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment