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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=383505" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>An American Poem</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">I was born in Boston in<br>1949. I never wanted<br>this fact to be known, in<br>fact I've spent the better<br>half of my adult life<br>trying to sweep my early<br>years under the carpet<br>and have a life that<br>was clearly just mine<br>and independent of<br>the historic fate of<br>my family. Can you<br>imagine what it was<br>like to be one of them,<br>to be built like them,<br>to talk like them<br>to have the benefits<br>of being born into such<br>a wealthy and powerful<br>American family. I went<br>to the best schools,<br>had all kinds of tutors<br>and trainers, traveled<br>widely, met the famous,<br>the controversial, and<br>the not-so-admirable<br>and I knew from<br>a very early age that<br>if there were ever any<br>possibility of escaping<br>the collective fate of this famous<br>Boston family I would<br>take that route and<br>I have. I hopped<br>on an Amtrak to New<br>York in the early<br>‘70s and I guess<br>you could say<br>my hidden years<br>began. I thought<br>Well I'll be a poet.<br>What could be more<br>foolish and obscure.<br>I became a lesbian.<br>Every woman in my<br>family looks like<br>a dyke but it's really<br>stepping off the flag<br>when you become one.<br>While holding this ignominious<br>pose I have seen and<br>I have learned and<br>I am beginning to think<br>there is no escaping<br>history. A woman I<br>am currently having<br>an affair with said<br>you know you look<br>like a Kennedy. I felt<br>the blood rising in my<br>cheeks. People have<br>always laughed at<br>my Boston accent<br>confusing &quot;large&quot; for<br>&quot;lodge,&quot; &quot;party&quot;<br>for &quot;potty.&quot; But<br>when this unsuspecting<br>woman invoked for<br>the first time my<br>family name<br>I knew the jig<br>was up. Yes, I am,<br>I am a Kennedy.<br>My attempts to remain<br>obscure have not served<br>me well. Starting as<br>a humble poet I<br>quickly climbed to the<br>top of my profession<br>assuming a position of<br>leadership and honor.<br>It is right that a<br>woman should call<br>me out now. Yes,<br>I am a Kennedy.<br>And I await<br>your orders.<br>You are the New Americans.<br>The homeless are wandering<br>the streets of our nation's<br>greatest city. Homeless<br>men with AIDS are among<br>them. Is that right?<br>That there are no homes<br>for the homeless, that<br>there is no free medical<br>help for these men. And women.<br>That they get the message<br>—as they are dying—<br>that this is not their home?<br>And how are your<br>teeth today? Can<br>you afford to fix them?<br>How high is your rent?<br>If art is the highest<br>and most honest form<br>of communication of<br>our times and the young<br>artist is no longer able<br>to move here to speak<br>to her time…Yes, I could,<br>but that was 15 years ago<br>and remember—as I must<br>I am a Kennedy.<br>Shouldn't we all be Kennedys?<br>This nation's greatest city<br>is home of the business-<br>man and home of the<br>rich artist. People with<br>beautiful teeth who are not<br>on the streets. What shall<br>we do about this dilemma?<br>Listen, I have been educated.<br>I have learned about Western<br>Civilization. Do you know<br>what the message of Western<br>Civilization is? I am alone.<br>Am I alone tonight?<br>I don't think so. Am I<br>the only one with bleeding gums<br>tonight. Am I the only<br>homosexual in this room<br>tonight. Am I the only<br>one whose friends have<br>died, are dying now.<br>And my art can't<br>be supported until it is<br>gigantic, bigger than<br>everyone else's, confirming<br>the audience's feeling that they are<br>alone. That they alone<br>are good, deserved<br>to buy the tickets<br>to see this Art.<br>Are working,<br>are healthy, should<br>survive, and are<br>normal. Are you<br>normal tonight? Everyone<br>here, are we all normal.<br>It is not normal for<br>me to be a Kennedy.<br>But I am no longer<br>ashamed, no longer<br>alone. I am not<br>alone tonight because<br>we are all Kennedys.<br>And I am your President.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Eileen+Myles">Eileen Myles</a><div class=q>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=383505" data-title="An American Poem de Eileen Myles" data-description="I was born in Boston in
1949. I never wanted
this fact to be known, in
fact I've spent the better
half of my adult life
trying to sweep my early
years under the carpet
and have a life that
was clearly just mine
and independent of
the historic fate..."></div>
</div>
</div>