Diddleyin' and Dealin'

Bo Diddley, the stage name of Ellas Otha Bates was known as "the originator." His influences on rock n' roll are evident through bands and musicians such as: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, Buddy Holly, and Jimi Hendrix. Diddley is best known for his transitions from blues to rock n' roll. Mickey Hart, one of the two drummers for the Grateful Dead said on June 2nd, 2008, to NME.com the day of Diddley's death, "that the defining 'Bo Diddley-beat' was the bedrock for thousands of bands including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, and countless others. His slashing rhythm guitar brought the most powerful rhythms from west Africa into rock 'n roll," said Hart. Hart also that "when I was 14 years old I happened to wander into a club and have the opportunity to play my first public performance with the master. It seems his drummer was late and asked if there was drummer in the house. That moment will always be with me."

Tom Petty is a great fan of Bo Diddley and his musical talents. Tom Petty answered questions in 1997 on-line from fans. One of the questions was: 'You've played with a lot of legendary rockers. Any others you would like to play with?" Tom Petty immediately answered, "Bo Diddley". At the 1997 Fillmore shows, the band often played the Bo Diddley song "Diddy Wah Diddy". When introducing the song, Tom Petty said:

"There is no one we admire in the whole world more than Mr. Bo Diddley. If Bo Diddley was English, I think he should be knighted. Actually, this country should build a monument in every State to Bo Diddley. Elvis is King, But Diddley is Daddy."

Tom Petty received his wish when Bo Diddley opened for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and joined them on-stage in April of 1999.




(Bo Diddley feature in the "Bo Knows" Nike commercials.



Tom Petty and The Heartbrakers featuring Bo Diddley in the song "Mona" in 1999.


Bo Diddley performing "Bo Diddley"

Poetry That's Got the Blues

Beginning in the 1920s, poetry began to expand from free verse and rhyming to certain types of poetry. A huge emergence of poetry came from the Motown movement and from Detroit: the Blues became not just a genre of music, but a type of poetry as well.

Stemming from the African American oral tradition as well as the musical tradition of the blues, blues poetry takes on themes such as struggle, despair, hard times, and sex. A blues poem often follows a specific form in which a general statement is made in the first line, a variation to that statement is made in the second line, and an ironic twist is made in the third line.

Many of those poets that wrote blues poetry also dabbled in the likes of jazz poetry. Jazz poetry, like blues poetry, was born in the 1920s. However, at the same time jazz was gaining popularity in the US, poetry was once again becoming relevant, especially in African American communities. As both art forms rose in prominence, some artists decided to combine the two styles to create one masterful style. Jazz poetry was born in the 1920s and was maintained in the 1950s by poets from the Beat generation. Some even say today's hip-hop music contains elements of jazz poetry.

Good Friends Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe Jr.

During the 60s, poets such as Amiri Baraka and Quincy Troupe Jr. brought the ideas of blues and jazz poetry back to life. Baracka used jazz poetry as a prime example of black pride during the Black Arts movement, while Troupe worked with famous jazz and blues musician Miles Davis to create some of the finest pieces of blues poetry ever created. Below is one of the greatest blues poems ever written ("The Weary Blues") by one of the greatest poets who ever lived, Langston Hughes. After reading it one can just feel how sad Hughes must have felt when writing this poem. The flow of this poem almost seems like the words can be attached to some kind of music. (Note: the numbers are not actually part of the poem)

"The Weary Blues"

               Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,

2             Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,

3              I heard a Negro play.

4          Down on Lenox Avenue the other night

5          By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light

6              He did a lazy sway ....

7              He did a lazy sway ....

8          To the tune o' those Weary Blues.

9          With his ebony hands on each ivory key

10        He made that poor piano moan with melody.

11            O Blues!

12        Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool

13        He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.

14            Sweet Blues!

15        Coming from a black man's soul.

16            O Blues!

17        In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone

18        I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan--

19            "Ain't got nobody in all this world,

20            Ain't got nobody but ma self.

21             I's gwine to quit ma frownin'

22             And put ma troubles on the shelf."

23        Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.

24        He played a few chords then he sang some more--

25            "I got the Weary Blues

26            And I can't be satisfied.

27            Got the Weary Blues

28            And can't be satisfied--

29            I ain't happy no mo'

30            And I wish that I had died."

31        And far into the night he crooned that tune.

32        The stars went out and so did the moon.

33        The singer stopped playing and went to bed

34        While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.

35        He slept like a rock or a man that's dead

-Langston Hughes (1923)

To me, the biggest part of the Black Arts movement is not the fact that African Americans were trying to show how much black culture meant, but the means on how they attempted to do this, and writing blues poetry was definitely a key contributor to this. By writing blues poetry, black poets and musicians alike were able to successfully depict how rough it was for African Americans to live during a time when they received little to no respect, especially for their contributions to art. Below is a video of one of the greatest blues guitarist to ever live, B.B. King. One can just tell how much emotion is put into his play, and how much the music means to him.





Sources:
Blues Poetry
Poetry and the Blues
Poetry and All That Jazz

Something In The Way Of Things (in Town)

Amiri Baraka, formerly known as LeRoi Jones has been involved in the African American art movement for decades. His reach from the beat generation, to the rap music today has impacted all aspects of the Black Arts Movement. The Roots, an African American jazz, hip hop band collaborated with Baraka in playing music to his poem, "Something in the Way of Things (in Town)." The music adds a whole new aspect to the poem. The drum beat accompanying music adds a dimension to the poem, and 'spaces' the poem out. Yet, the music does not take away from Baraka's voice, which is very powerful. The poem itself, I believe is about how the reader is someone special. The reader can "see something in the way of ourselves" and "know things you know and nothing you don't know 'cept I saw something in the way of things." The reader also realizes there is something going on. Throughout the poem the title emerges, something in the way of things. By studying the history of Baraka's time the things he is talking about in this poem are directly related to Baraka's involvement in the African American movements during and through the 1960s, "There's garbage on the street that's tellin' you you ain't shit
And you almost believe it Broke and mistaken all the time."

!Yo mama's so fat that when we went out to the restaurant she looked at the menu and said sounds good!" -The Roots of the Dozens

A young Amiri Baraka

Although very well known for his poetry, Amiri Baraka is even more well known by his style and the way he learned how to write poetry. Baraka, one of the most influential poets during the 1970s Black Arts Movement, studied a lot of poetry growing up, but what influenced him the most on his work was living everyday life in Greenwich Village, and conversing with other African Americans. On the streets, Baraka and his boys would "play the dozens," which is when two people would square off against each other and try to insult the other person more. This is where rap all began.


The word "dozens" or "playing the dozens" is said to have its origins in the time of slavery, when slaves who were deformed, too old or out of thier prime would be devalued on the auction block. It is also said to have rooted from black slaves who got engaged in verbal bashings with their owners during the time.

As the years went by, "playing the dozens" became an integral part of African American culture, and eventually made its way into the public eye. The dozens were not just a battle of lyrics, but a battle of self-control, extreme verbal ability, and a whit that somehow combines intellect with anger and mental toughness. The aspect of "battling" was really where the origins of hip hop began, when one person squared off against another. Winning the battle would most likely result in respect increase, while losing might mean humiliation. As rap started to burst onto the scene, it was for things like playing the dozens that made rap so popular. The ability to come up with insane lyrics that also insult the other opponent drew people in, and that's most likely Amiri Baraka's style and the genre of hip hop appeal to so many people.

This is from the movie "8 Mile," an example of how playing the dozens has evolved into rap and how much it appeals to people. It's got a lot of bad words, but damn is it amazing.

B Rabbit VS Papa Doc - The most amazing home videos are here

Sources:
historycooperative.org
Louisiana's living traditions
Baraka's Biography

A Brief Study on the African-American Dilemma

The journey of the African-American in the United States has not been a walk in the park. From bondage and slavery to the presidency, the so-called "Colored" folk of this country have seen it all. Through the years, several important events have taken place, radically changing the direction of the minority group, resulting in a successful rebirth and revitalization in the mid-20th century. Although emancipation came in 1863, blacks would not experience full freedom until the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

Throughout the 1940's and 50's, many African-Americans believed it better to take their safety into their own hands and formed the Black Panther Party for Self Defence. This revolutionary organization was active through the 60's and promoted equality and fair treatment for all minorities. The Nation of Islam is a religious organization founded by W.F. Muhammad in July 1930. He set out with the goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of the African American men and women of America. The Nation of Islam teaches that Black People were the original humans. Former Nation Leader Elijah Muhammad explains:

"The Blackman is the original man. From him came all brown, yellow, red, and white people. By using a special method of birth control law, the Blackman was able to produce the white race. This method of birth control was developed by a Black scientist known as Yakub, who envisioned making and teaching a nation of people who would be diametrically opposed to the Original People. A Race of people who would one day rule the original people and the earth for a period of 6,000 years"

Malcolm X, an important figure in the Nation of Islam, claims that the culture of the African-American people was destroyed by slavery. He explains that ever since the time of slavery, White men had imposed their laws, culture, and names upon the slaves, completely erasing any previous identities. He elaborates on his religious views as well that the Nation of Islam, and the African-American race in general, will "qualify for recognition, as human beings, by all other...human beings on this Earth".

Amiri Baraka wrote a poem titled "Notes for a Speech", which evokes similar feelings to the words of Malcolm X.

Notes For a Speech

African blues
does not know me. Their steps, in sands
of their own
land. A country
in black & white, newspapers
blown down pavements
of the world. Does
not feel
what I am.

Strength

in the dream, an oblique
suckling of nerve, the wind
throws up sand, eyes
are something locked in
hate, of hate, of hate, to
walk abroad, they conduct
their deaths apart
from my own. Those
heads, I call
my "people."

(And who are they. People. To concern

myself, ugly man. Who
you, to concern
the white flat stomachs
of maidens, inside houses
dying. Black. Peeled moon
light on my fingers
move under
her clothes. Where
is her husband. Black
words throw up sand
to eyes, fingers of
their private dead. Whose
soul, eyes, in sand. My color
is not theirs. Lighter, white man
talk. They shy away. My own
dead souls, my, so called
people. Africa
is a foreign place. You are
as any other sad man here
american.

Here, Baraka talks about how he is stripped of his true African identity, as "Africa is a foreign place".

Poetry and the Progress of Man

Is technological progress truly beneficial for the strength and sanity of the human race? Many poets, writers, and philosophers have grappled with the same question. The recent surge in mobile communication devices has changed how people observe and interact with the world. The Internet has revolutionized everything from the global economy, to our personal social life. Have we lost something? Can we continue to exist on such an artificial level? Throughout this article I will put these questions in perspective with poetic writing from two outstanding poets of the 20th century.


After reading an insightful essay by C.S. Lewis called “The Abolition of Man,” I understood the full depth of Amiri Baraka’s poem “In Memory of Radio.”

C.S. Lewis argues that that technological advances negatively influence the human race in terms of its “Power” and spirituality. To read the entire essay one must forgive his use of the word “Man” or “he” because he means humankind with these sexist terms. He uses three technological advances to illustrate his point, “the aeroplane, the wireless, and the contraceptive.” By wireless he means radio and not a cell phone. He writes that,

“Any or all of the three things I have mentioned can be withheld from some men by other men—by those who sell, or those who allow the sale, or those who own the sources of production, or those who make the goods. What we call Man's power is, in reality, a power possessed by some men which they may, or may not, allow other men to profit by. Again, as regards the powers manifested in the aeroplane or the wireless, Man is as much the patient or subject as the possessor, since he is the target both for bombs and for propaganda.”

Later he defends himself against the criticism that he is anti-science.

Nothing I can say will prevent some people from describing this lecture as an attack on science. I deny the charge, of course: and real Natural Philosophers (there are some now alive) will perceive that in defending value I defend the value of knowledge… I even suggest that from Science herself the cure might come.

To interpret the full meaning of what C.S. Lewis means one must think outside the box. He defends the value of knowledge, for example, understanding how a radio works has true value. To use the radio and take its function for granted without knowing how it works, the listener gives up their power to the few people who do understand how the radio works.

As Amiri Baraka mourns the fading appeal of radio, C.S. Lewis mourns the use of Science and technology to rob us from our natural Power to understand the world around us.

The Beats...and their Drugs

A group spurred on by their own inner motivation, the Beats paved the way for the American mindset we have today. Rebellious in nature, The Beats' influence reached so far that words such as "hip" and "cool" became part of our everyday vocabulary. They took everything with a grain of salt, and insisted on seeing the world for what it really is. Rejecting material goods, they go with the flow, and roll with the punches, making for a very dynamic, vibrant social group.


Many Beats wished to open their minds to the world and experience new sensations. For this reason, recreational drug use became inextricably linked to the Beat Generation. Poets such as Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs regarded drug use as an important part of life, meant to allow you to exist in multiple mental states and stimulate you beyond your imagination. Now when speaking about drugs it's best to understand what the Beats considered to be drugs. William S. Burroughs explains best his stance on drug use in a commentary on his novel Naked Lunch (1959):

"When I speak of drug addiction I do not refer to keif, marijuana or any preparation of hashish, mescaline, Banisteriopsis caapi, LSD6, Sacred Mushrooms or any other drugs of the hallucinogen group... There is no evidence that the use of any hallucinogen results in physical dependence"

Burroughs, receiving a monthly allowance of $200 from his parents, was able to forgo employment and have complete freedom for twenty-five years of his life. During this time, he left Harvard University, traveled throughout Germany and Austria, aided a Jewish refugee in coming to the United States, enlisted in the United States Army and was discharged, eventually landing him in New York City selling heroin to support a morphine addiction. All in all, though, a pretty normal life. Burroughs had several turbulent periods in his life (did I mention he killed his wife?), and serious drugs seemed to be an everyday occurrence, although he managed to keep his life together until the ripe age of 83, dying of a heart attack in Kansas.
Allen Ginsberg, the Jewish leftist homosexual of the group, highly valued his drug experiences. In 1948, Ginsberg claims to have heard the English poet William Blake reciting poetry that he had written. Although it is unclear whether Ginsberg was actually "tripping balls" at this point, he does explain that his subsequent "drug experimentation in many ways was an attempt to recapture that feeling". It is, after this experience, that Ginsberg thinks there to be an "interconnectedness of all existence". Also, Ginsberg works to bring drug use into the mainstream. With passionate ideas regarding politics and personal freedoms, Ginsberg sought to legalize marijuana and promote more common use of LSD. In his poem, Put Down Your Cigarette Rag (Don't Smoke), he brings to light the dangers of smoking tobacco, and juxtaposes that with drug use.

"30 thousand die of coke or
Illegal speed each year
430 thousand cigarette deaths
That's the drug to fear"

Finally, we have Jack Kerouac, the one poet that could write of sex, drugs, and other worldly sins so matter-of-factly that critics would think it to be a mistake. Kerouac, in an interview, tells that "Poem 230 from Mexico City Blues was written purely on morphine" and that "every line in this poem was written within an hour of one another...high on a big dose of M". Kerouac uses the effects of drugs to place himself in a different mindset and write poetry. Unfortunately, the psychedelic drugs commonly used throughout the 50's and 60's were quickly demonized by the establishment, bringing about their government recall and classification as dangerous substances.

William S. Burroughs once said that "Our national drug is alcohol. We tend to regard the use of any other drug with special horror". It is true that, unlike drugs, alcohol related accidents account for a significantly inflated number of deaths in the United States. While alcohol and tobacco are pinned as the cause of over 500,000 annual deaths, the number of marijuana related deaths remains stagnant at zero. Now, I may be nuts, but considering the statistics...what's wrong with weed?

FURTHER READING:

PLAYBOY INTERVIEW: BOB DYLAN

The Paris Review - Jack Kerouac, The Art of Fiction No. 41

The Poetic Politician

Does poetry mix with politics or do they repel each other like oil and water?

Poetry can be the most influential form of language, infused with emotive power used in everyday speech to reinforce political discourse. Political ideas and platforms are communicated by way of the written word and public orations, just like poetry. Poetry is a tool that politicians use to sway public opinion on issues. Therefore in my opinion the most skillful politician is a masterful poet. Unfortunately many dictators gained their power through poetic persuasion. Just because a politician is a powerful poet does not mean they are a good politician.


Two Examples of famous politicians, who were also poets, are Pablo Neruda, and Robert Byrd. Pablo Neruda is one of the most famous poets of the 20th century. In 1971, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. While he was first and foremost a poet, Neruda also was a senator for the Chilean Communist Party for the few years it was in power. Robert Byrd is best known for his role as senator of West Virginia. In fact he was the longest serving senator in United States history. One of the reasons he was so loved was because he insisted on the occasional poetry recital in congress to lighten (or highten) the atmosphere. An opinion they shared is that all poetry is political in one way or another.

Robert Frost recited a poem at John F. Kennedy’s election. Frost had written a poem specially for the occasson called "Dedication" He began to recite it but given his advanced age and the glare of the sun on the sheet of paper prevented him to complete it. Instead he recited one entitled "The Gift Outright" from memory: After this recital all following inaugurations have had a poetry recital. This is a respected tradition, which now serves an important purpose in American history.

The only political position that poets can hold is the role of poet laureate. The most influential poets are chosen as laureates to acknowledge the importance of poetry in politics. While laureates are not required to write on political issues, they have the ability to criticize without being unpatriotic. As respected poets they often give the everyday public opinion more weight. This gives the poets undeniable political influence.
Even with overwhelming proof that poetry is a vital component to healthy politics there is a counter argument to my opinion. Many poets, Like Wyatt Prunty have denied poetry’s political influence, because, as he claims, “Political language must be simplified for the common audience. Poetry cannot be simplified to this degree. Poetry, it its fullest, transcends political factions, and expresses the universal human condition.” My retort is that government is created to serve the human condition. Therefore, politics depends on poetry to express what humans need from their government.

Sources:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1241067

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1257

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Neruda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd

Dylan and The Dead

On a previous blog post I mentioned the Grateful Dead. This past week in class we spent a day talking about the works of Bob Dylan. Interestingly enough, Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead collaborated in 1987 to make an album titled "Dylan and The Dead." "Dylan and The Dead" was recorded in 1987, during a successful stadium tour of the same title. For this series of concerts, the Grateful Dead would perform two sets of material, followed by a set by Bob Dylan, backed by the Grateful Dead. The collaborative group recorded seven songs for the album. They are: Slow Train, I Want You, Gotta Serve Somebody, Queen Jane Approximately, Joey, All Along the Watchtower, and Knockin on Heaven's Door. My favorite song of the collaboration effort, Knockin on Heaven's Door is a song written by Bob Dylan about a dying deputy. The song's lyrics below show poetic usage of repetition in the chorus, and the music that accompanies the song adds an eerie effect that dramatically slows down the song and makes it more solemn.

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Here is a video of Dylan and The Dead performing the song Slow Train.

Bob Dylan- Pioneer of a Generation

After discussing one of my all-time favorite musicians this past week in class, Bob Dylan, I decided to look into an area of study that I wrote a research paper on my sophmore year: Anti-war music during the Vietnam War. This topic is relevant to Bob Dylan because as many people know, he is one of the most influential artists of this generation of musicians.

Dylan was heavily influenced in his childhood by early rock stars Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard. However, as he began his music career, he actually strayed away from traditional rock and towards the folk-like rock music. Unlike other folk singers of the time, such as Woody Guthrie and Joan Baez, Dylan opened his audience not just to the traditional folk music audience but to the college students. But how? Dylan's musical (and poetic) style is as if he is telling a story in his music, and when he would speak his message on stage, people would listen. His lyrics offered the public an awareness of what was going on with the world and not just to entertain the audience, which certainly appealed to youngsters nationwide.

As the Vietnam War began, Dylan broadened his focus from simply folk music to music that included Vietnam; he also tailored his songs to demonstrate the message he chose to follow, which was the anti-war movement. With his album The Times They Are A-Changin', Dylan established himself as the leading icon of the protest movement. It is pretty incredible to me how Dylan appealed to so many people, but when everyone is on the same page and all agree on the same cause, it is easy to see how an icon such as Dylan could emerge like this. For the very first time, the popular music in a generation was regarding a war, or in this case, disregarding it.

One of Dylan's best and most influential songs, Blowin in the Wind, shows his unique insight on the war, how the answer is right in front of us, but is still "blowin in the wind." Looking on this song on paper and listening to the song can really change one's view of the song, so below are the lyrics as well as a video of Dylan performing it:

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man ?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand ?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea ?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free ?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky ?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry ?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died ?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Sources:
http://library.thinkquest.org/11847/gather/3b.html
http://www.biography.com/articles/Bob-Dylan-9283052?part=0

A Night Of Poetic Standards

My siblings, Alexandra, Andrew and I traveled to Brooklyn on Saturday the 2nd of October. We arrived for lunch at Roberta's, which is a restaurant based on a poetic concept.

----------------------------------------

Eat the Food,

Where the food is grown,

Where the food is prepared.

----------------------------------------

Here is the picture of Roberta's garden in the spring.

We ate and then just hung out among hoards of “Hep Cats” who crowded in and out of this chill spot. “You dig?”

It came time for us to “Fade Out” so we rolled out on “Badnews.”

Next stop was this tight scene where my sista was playing a live score for this Avant Garde “like” film screening thing called, “the secret fundraiser.” The concept of this fundraiser was as paradoxical as the city-garden at Roberta's. Somehow it works in Brooklyn.

We bounced from that scene to go to see a band called Liturgy.

They describe themselves as “Pure Transcendental Black Metal”

Actually the show was a poetry recital trampled by a charge of banging instruments.
---------------------------------

Ecstatic Rite

And the yoke weighed heavily
Upon the neck
And the tractors placed their tracks
Upon the cowering soil

The arrow cast
The bow pulled back
The arrow cast

And the chains were linked to other chains
Forged obliquely, freeing no one and everyone

Ecstatic rite
Divide the father

Ecstatic rite
Divide the father

From river to sea
The waves sing and shine
Untrained, unrestrained
Desiring nothing
From hill to vale

Form gives way to form
----------------------------------

This is one of the most beautiful poems but it cannot even be deciphered in the crowded music. I do not expect anyone to get though this whole video.

That one evening reminded me of the people of the "Beat Movement." Brooklyn is the new Greenwhich Village. It is an escape from "squaresville" for the youth.

Sources:

http://www.cityfarmer.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/robert3.jpg

http://www.robertaspizza.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lvIER0Mr0o
http://www.myspace.com/liturgynybm

Did Jew Know? I Sure Didn't

A liturgical work Yose ben Yose, 5th century

  Studying Allen Ginsberg this past week in poetry class made me start to wonder the roots of Jewish American Literature, more particularly Jews involved in poetry. Jews in literature date all the way back to the 5th Century with a man named Yose ben Yose, who, although little is known of his life, is the first poet of Jewish descent to begin writing original poetry (although Yose's work was primarily liturgical). As time went one, Jewish poets began to emerge. However, it wasn't until the 13th Century that Jews began to start taking poetry seriously as a profession. One of the leaders of this movement was Rabbi Abraham Abulafia who, throughout his life, was condemned for his unorthodox views and writings, and thus traveled around Europe encouraging others to express themselves freely.

   One event in American history that had a great deal of impact on Jewish Poetry was Immigration during the 1910s and 20s. Many Jews and other ethnicities were considered by many "unassaimible," and thus many Jews that came over in this time sought out to destroy this theory through their writing. 

  Although all this is well and good, the real start of the Jewish poet movement began post-World War II, when most Jews started to write about the horrors of war and their opinions and such. As I was researching Jewish poetry, I came across a very powerful poem written by a Polish Jew named Itzhak Katzenelson, who lived in  a Polish Ghetto throughout World War II until he was sent to Aushwitz where he eventually died. This poem is called "I Had Dream"

I had a dream,

a terrible dream:

my people was no more, my people 

disappeared.

I rose screaming:

Ah! Ah!

What I have dreamed

is happening now! 

Oh, God in heaven! -- 

Shuddering I shall cry:

what for and why

did my people die?

What for and why 

in vain did it die?

Not in a war,

not in battle . . .

the young, the old,

and women and babies so little -- --

are no more, no more:

wring your hands! 

Thus I'll cry in sorrow

both day and night:

What for, my Lord,

dear God, why?

Ginsberg Preaching his Message in Washington, 1966

  Thus leads us to the area of study that we have begun to tackle in our poetry class, the Beat Generation. The reason Jews became such an important group of people in this movement was because of people like Allen Ginsberg, who wasn't afraid to stick up for what he believed in and turn away from conformity. Thats why I find the connection of all Jewish Poets and Poetry so interesting. I'm sure from the time of Yose ben Yose, to the World War Two Era and Kalzenelson, all the way to Ginsberg, Jews were always discouraged, and thus had great inspiration for their writing. Below is a clip from the upcoming movie "Howl" starring James Franco as Allen Ginsberg. One can just tell from this clip how powerful Ginsberg's words were on a generation where few stood up to conformity. 

  

  

-Source: Jewish American Poetry

John Lennon Anniversary

This weekend marked the 70th birthday of John Lennon. Lennon, a member of the Beatles who was fatally shot in New York City on December 8, 1980. Lennon is remembered as one of the most influential singer-song writers of the 20th Century. Besides music, Lennon had art pieces, and was a peace activist. Arguably, one of Lennon's most famous songs "Imagine" has a verse that has made me think about the world we live in the verse is as follows:

Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace

This verse has made me ponder about the world we live in. Native Americans for example, lived in a world without proper nations or religions. They Native Americans lived for the earth and of the earth. Their religion was based on the fact that everyone comes from the earth and when they die they return to the earth. A world without nations and religions would be quite different then the world we live in, without religion there could arguably peace in the middle east, Ireland and England would not be fighting, and neither would India and Pakistan. As John Lennon would say, imagine.

Here is a video of Lennon performing his song "Imagine":

Age Bridge Built From Poetry

Today, in the Wyoming Seminary Kirby library, one of the most amazing collaboration classes of all time took place. Because it was grandparent’s day, many students had their grandparents sit in on our poetry class. Soon, they became like elderly members of our class as we started to share poetry. The grandparents clapped for, and commented on our poetry. When the “write a poem about family” assignment was given the elderly joined in on the collaboration. It was a beautiful moment of bridging generations in the most poetic way possible.

Boaz and I were truly feeling in the mood to blurt out our stream of consciousness because we have been both getting into the poetry and way of life of the Beat poets. The two of us improvised this little poem that encapsulates many of the themes that were discussed today.


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Without family, without purpose,
If purpose is family, Father is determination,
And Mother is reason,
Brother is forever, Sister is too.
Together we are more than purpose,
Without we are worthless
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Boaz and I read this allowed at the same time to illustrate the point of unity in a family. After presenting this poem we both felt like brothers with each other.

Everyone stepped out of the library today with more than they had bargained for. Some with a lyrical beef stew dinner, and others, like myself, with a unfamiliar yet awe inspiring emotional experience.

Today I found a video that gives insight into the minds of our grandparents. How do they interpret our music?

A Poem Inspired by Phish

I have been listening to Vermont Jam Band Phish since my older brother and father introduced them to me. I listen to the band daily and this poem was written while listening to their performance of the song 'Lenghthwise' directly followed by 'Maze.'

This is my poem:

This life is a maze,

left, right, straight, or back,

leave the pack.

Sometimes on the wrong path, it's okay....

turn around, and start again.

Music, a form of poetry conjures up many emotions that personally help me write. My favorite writer of music is Grateful Dead writer, Robert Hunter. Robert Hunter was born June 23, 1941 in California. Friends with Grateful Dead front man Jerry Garcia, Hunter has been involved with the band since it's early days. Hunter was heavily influenced by psychodelic drugs that were inspirations to many of his songs, including famous Grateful Dead songs such as China Cat Sunflower seen in the following video:


Other of Hunter's famous songs include, "Franklin's Tower," "Truckin," "Friend of the Devil" "Casey Jones," "Box of Rain," "Sugar Magnolia," "Playing in the Band" and finally, "Ripple."