Good morning and happy weekend!
POETRY
“When power leads men towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” –John F. Kennedy
This quote on poetry is beautiful. I was moved by The New York Times publishing works written by high school kids. Amanda Gorman is not the only brilliant young poet out there. Here’s another:
WHY TASHA WAS BURIED IN A YELLOW COFFIN
By Inari Williams, 18, Chicago
Before she was trapped inside/
Before there was darkness/
Before there was silence/
Before she heard the shoveling of dirt get softer and farther away/
Before she heard her mother weep for the first and last time/
Before she was lifted onto then lowered by velvet ropes/
Before warm hands applied makeup to her cold face/
She never wore it/
Before the white sheet/
Before the red lines tied around trees/
Before the boys in blue took their time/
Before the fade to black/
Before she felt gravity pull her to the ground/
Before she dropped her hot crunchy curls and grape pop/
Before she heard the bang/
Before the grown, male, shadows argued/
Before the shadows flash fingers/
Before she entered the gas station/
Before she passed the church on the corner of her house/
Just like she did yesterday and the day before that/
Before she walked out the front door forgetting to close the front gate, assuming she’d be right back/
Before she yelled up the stairs telling her mother where she was going/
Before putting her headphones on right when her mother was about to say what she always said/
“Be careful, I love you, and hurry back!”/
Before her younger brother asked where you going/
Before she replied “none of your business” rolling her eyes giggling/
Before her brother asked, “what’s your favorite color?” before heading out the front door/
She turned and replied, “it’s the color of life, yellow.”/
MUSIC
Ringo Starr’s New Years 2021. Every time I see Ringo it makes me smile. This short video also makes me smile. Some may remember that Ringo played “The Conductor” on Thomas the Tank Engine. TRIVIA: What famous celebrity also played “The Conductor”?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5wAjaHLHOI
And here’s Ringo’s new tune with friends Paul McCartney, Jeff Lynde, Joe Walsh and others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6oqrbFzLaU
“Uptown Funk,” danced by old time dancers from the movies. I love that the archival film is so familiar and fun and was not sped up or slowed down to fit in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1F0lBnsnkE
Have a great weekend,
Glenn
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