What happened to poetry?

Elizabeth Alexander read her poem at the innaug. yesterday. She is very accomplished in her work.

I will set my timer for exactly 3 minutes to limit the brain damage required to pen my prose.



Excerpt from POEM #1 WHO WROTE THIS? ME or Liz?

Jax on the prairie calls - forlorn in it's golden ray? Never
a doubt. Clouds conjoin in twisted play pith and myrth
I am a part. Windmill creaks nature's heft. Star of day
leads the line. Old tractor under foot? New sky above, now
air. Rusted rich soil in the nail. I exhale the depth
of it all, the depth of growth, mother,

on your luster and bounty.




TAKE A BREAK - AND BANG YOUR HEAD AGAINST A HARD OBJECT BEFORE SUBJECTING YOURSELF TO MORE OF THIS.



Excerpt from POEM #2 WHO WROTE THIS? ME or Liz?

Did you tea-dance that day? Write poems
in the sunlight? Vamp with strangers? There is
sun under your skin like the gold Sula
found beneath Ajax's black. I calibrate
the weight of your beautiful bones, the weight
of your elbow, Melvin,

on Darrell's brown shoulder.

So, now that you have read two poems - one written by a genius and one by a novice mocking a genius - cast your vote in the response box below. I will unveil the true poet by Friday.

It took me 3 minutes and 15 seconds - by the way......