Poetry, Not Prose
Tom Friedman says that we need poetry, not prose,
to get this country into better shape.
Although we surely know a rose would be a rose
if called by any other name, a grape
becomes much more when sublimated into wine,
and politics don’t matter till its message
becomes poetic. Prose won’t help to make it shine,
and all predications politicians presage
won’t come to pass unless they’re elevated with
poetic language that shifts paradigms,
and brings into reality what seemed mere myth,
promoting the prosaic with its rhymes.
We need a narrative that we can memorize,
not complicated data on a chart,
and yearn for tuneful songs that we can harmonize,
and poems we love learning off by heart.
Inspired by an Op-Ed article by Thomas Friedman in the NYT, November 1,2009, exhorting President Obama to be more poetic (“More Poetry Please”) :
More and more lately, I find people asking me: What do you think President Obama really believes about this or that issue? I find that odd. How is it that a president who has taken on so many big issues, with very specific policies — and has even been awarded a Nobel Prize for all the hopes he has kindled — still has so many people asking what he really believes? I don’t think that President Obama has a communications problem, per se. He has given many speeches and interviews broadly explaining his policies and justifying their necessity. Rather, he has a “narrative” problem….
“Obama’s election marked a shift — from a politics that celebrated privatized concerns to a politics that recognized the need for effective government and larger public purposes. Across the political spectrum, people understood that national renewal requires big ambition, and a better kind of politics, ” said the Harvard political theorist Michael Sandel, author of the new best seller — “Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? ” — that calls for elevating our public discourse. But to deliver on that promise, Sandel added, Obama needs to carry the civic idealism of his campaign into his presidency. He needs a narrative that will get the same voters who elected him to push through his ambitious agenda — against all the forces of inertia and private greed. “You can’t get nation-building without shared sacrifice, ” said Sandel, “and you cannot inspire shared sacrifice without a narrative that appeals to the common good — a narrative that challenges us to be citizens engaged in a common endeavor, not just consumers seeking the best deal for ourselves. Obama needs to energize the prose of his presidency by recapturing the poetry of his campaign.”
11/1/09
poem by Gershon Hepner
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Barack Obama
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Change, you must the world;
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
But do you have the gold?
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
People need more jobs;
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
You must stop their sobs.
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Wars are just futile;
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Let peace remain awhile.
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Prices must be cut;
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
None can live in hut.
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Energy is prime;
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Work in any clime.
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Pollution must stop;
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Make a friendlier cop.
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Should the unborn die?
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Live, they shouldn’t but why?
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Change is what you need;
Barack Obama, Barack Obama,
Pluck away the weed!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 1-18-2009
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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FDR created today's 30 percent coalition. Obama wants to finish the job by turning it into a permanent ruling majority. There's nothing new about the Obama Narrative. It is the FDR Narrative on steroids. It is intended to lead to greater statism and political gain.
quote by Arthur C. Brooks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Obama
This is for Barack Obama we don’t have to deal with bush any longer.
Obama has spread change to America and now it is the worlds time.
Obama worked for his president seat. Dispite the death threats and racism.
Lets hope we wont have to deal with racism any longer under obama it is not white power or black power it is shared power.
Let god watch over and protect the first black president now I can say I am apart of the hip hop generation.
poem by Ian Singer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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4th November 2008
'I have a dream! '
And today the dream is fulfilled by electing Barack Obama;
'I have a dream! '
And the 4th November 2008 is now recorded into the History Books;
'I have a dream! '
And today Barack Obama is the 44th President of the U.S.A.;
For the Blackman is capable of handling his or her own affairs.
'I have a dream! '
And 4th November 2008 will be the date to remember always;
'I have a dream! '
For this date gave the First African American to be a President;
'I have a dream! '
And the shout i do hear around me is: 'Obama, Obama, Obama! ! '
'I have a dream! '
That today the Americans had recorded a History to us all;
'I have a dream! '
That the days of the Slavery gone by had yielded fruit today;
'I have a dream! '
And 4th November 2008 had taken us through to fulfil this dream;
So we can really make a change of our lives today.
'I have a dream! '
Today the First Blackman is Elected as the 44th U.S. President;
'I have a dream! '
That today there is joy in the African American Community;
'I have a dream! '
And for who the cap fits must surely wear it;
And today, the cap fits Barack Obama.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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How Did You Get Past Me
'What are you waiting here for? '
I'm waiting to get a glimpse,
Of the new president.
'Who? Obama?
Yes, of course.
Is there any other?
'No!
Not quite like President Obama.
And...
He's already inside.'
Impossible.
I've been standing here waiting.
'Well...
We not too long ago played a game of basketball.
He's amazing.
I see him from here.
He's looking at us now! '
WHAT? No way?
'Way! '
President Obama?
How...what...did you?
I've been waiting to see you.
How did you pass me...
To get inside?
~There is more than one way to get inside,
You know.
And besides...
What direction were you looking in?
Up?
You should see my fading jump shot.
And I have yet to perfect it!
Come on in.
I'm showing my teammates,
A new game of 'strategy' I'm developing.
I'm calling it, 'Let Them Call It What They Want.
However, They Will Know It As This'
I am still working on the title.~
Can you be more specific?
~Of course!
But that will take the fun out of something I want 'felt'.~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Our Visions Will Be Focused On the Same Course
The camera loves,
Their physical appearances.
Good looks with chiseled grins.
They are equally adored,
By both men and women.
And elected to restore...
All of Camelot.
And the sparkling imagined,
Behind the doors.
It's with image given and adored,
The people are expecting...
To return a greatness to its shores.
*...and, Senator Brightooth,
You have stated in your stunning, upset win...
As a Republican!
That you have ideas,
You've come to deliver to Washington.
How do you believe your 'effectiveness'
Can bring about trust and respect,
To a nation much in dire neglect.
With an implemented vision...
That has of yet,
Corrected the issues of hunger, poverty...
Job and homelessness? *
~Let me make this perfectly clear.
Our fiscal integrity is deplorable at best.
A corrupted greed that has fed a decadence...
Can not continue.
We can! And we will...
Deliver our best.~
*AND...
What will that be that we can look forward to
That will be delivered? *
~An unintended acceleration,
Of misguided policies.
That must stop.
No more tick tocking of that divisive clock,
Will be tolerated on my watch.~
*Thank you!
And President Obama?
We understand your endorsement,
Of a more bipartisan working relationship...
With the new senator? *
'Yes...
We have made that absolutely clear.'
*What are your current ambitions?
And prioritized policies? *
'Let me make this perfectly clear.
Our fiscal integrity is deplorable at best.
A corrupted greed that has fed a decadence...
Can not continue.
We can! And we will...
Deliver our best.'
*I see!
These sound bites heard,
Are uniquely similar.
Will there be an initiation soon...
The people can expect to witness,
A positive change in their lives? *
~Of course! ~
*Sorry, Senator Brightooth.
That question was directed to President Obama.
President Obama?
Your response? *
'Of course!
And let me add...
Senator Brightooth and I,
Also have this in common as well.'
*And...
That would be...
What? *
'We are both blessed to have beautiful wives.
So I am without doubt,
Our dinner parties will be most enjoyed!
And we both can guarantee,
Our visions will be focused on the same course...
That will unite our efforts.
To produce and feed an agenda that is bipartisan.
No more tick tocking of that divisive clock,
Will be tolerated on my watch!
Brightooth?
Love those lines.
May I use them at some point? *
~Hey...
Sure,
No problem.
These braised beef tips are delicious.~
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Obama Is Still In Office
Magic night,
Magic moment;
303 against 206!
2012 US Presidential Election,
Between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney;
Two, tow! !
And Obama won the election.
Won own!
Obama is still in the Oval office,
For s second term.
Muse, use!
The Democrat and the Republican;
2012 US Presidential Election,
And Obama won the election.
The President needs another four years! !
To fulfil his dreams;
And like the muse of Obama to the world,
303 against 206.
Magic night,
Magic moment,
Obama is still in the Oval office;
For a second term,
Because, he won the election.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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We know that Europe loves President Obama. He had adoring crowds. The press loves Obama. The question is how will this date end? Okay? The question is, to what end? Why do they love President Obama? They love his personal story, they love his wife. North Korea, China and Russia don't really care about Michelle's arms and, you know, whether they gave an iPod to the Queen, okay?
quote by Laura Ingraham
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Obama or McCain
Why should I care who is the next U S President Obama or McCain
Since from who wins or loses I won't stand to gain
I do live far distant of the U S of A
Many thousands of miles that does seem far away.
'Tis all about success and ego and about self esteem
And 'tis all about power little else it does seem
But the poor of the U S as poor will remain
And it should not matter to them who wins Obama or McCain.
This is all about money and all about power
Though many never know of a good meal or of a warm shower
So many live rough on the poor side of town
Whilst McCain and Obama compete for renown.
In the refugee camps of the World millions of refugees
Who live hungry where there is squalor and disease
McCain or Obama will not help them in any way
Do you think this is not a fair thing to say?
The rewards of the power and the glory the winners will reap
And to the U S Presidental Election I will not lose any sleep
Whether 'tis Obama or McCain why should I much care
Since they are both power hungry people and their type not
rare.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Within the U.S., the Obama presidency will be mainly measured by the success or failure of his economic policies. And here, I fear, the monstrous stimulus package with which this administration stumbled out of the gate will prove to be Obama's Waterloo.
quote by Camille Paglia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I want our leaders to lead our country to greatness, but President Obama and his misguided policies and ideology have really fundamentally changed our country in the wrong way, more so than any president in our history.
quote by Ben Quayle
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Do-Over Again?
I wrote awhile back about the Michigan and Florida Democratic Do-Over,
Because they violated the Democratic Party’s rules,
Now Barack Obama is the 44th President as of January 20th was that for sure?
In the hustle and bustle amongst all the bling and jewels,
There was a snafu,
At noon, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts who hadn’t clue,
What he was about to say,
Justice Roberts managed to mumble a few pseudo-dyslexic statements,
For President-Elect Obama to repeat, with some surprise,
After all was the Chief Justice caught up in the moments?
This slice of American History;
This Chief Justice will make history for centuries after his demise.
What a glorious event,2 million people attended, without one fracas of the law,
What moments that practically the whole world watched,
Glued to their TV’s, radios, I-Pods, and Computers,
Could have not believed what they saw,
A non-white man was going be the President of the United States of America?
But back to the swearing ceremony; the Chief Justice,
-well kind of ‘screwed up’.
Rather than embarrass the Judge,
Barack played along,
That’s when I knew he was for real,
Rather than create an upheaval of trying to correct the Judge’s words,
Barack went on with the flow,
No ‘up-manship’ here,
it was pretty clear,
That Barack Obama was our president after 12: 01 pm EST,
However he was repeating the words of a man, not the constitution,
Yesterday, at a private ceremony,
Supreme Court Roberts did say the correct words,
In which “President Obama” was sworn in a second time,
On consecutive dates in this institution.
(1-22-09)
poem by Joe Rosochacki
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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President Obama-Nobel Peace Prize
Did you hear?
'Hear what? '
President Obama!
He was selected to win,
A Nobel Peace Prize.
'Laaawwwddd...
The bigots and his detractors
Wont like that.
Especially the ones who question
His eligibility.
And whether or not he is deserving.'
He may be the first President to receive it!
'Let's just say the 'first' black president
Elected in the United States to receive it.'
I know he is intelligent.
I know he is wise and has the 'vision'.
But I 'still' can not believe it.
'Me either.
He has only been in office less than a year.'
And he could have done 'anything' he wanted.
ANYTHING other than run for president of this country.
Why would he want to sacrifice his talents like that?
Put himself in jeopardy to represent such imbeciles.
'Careful!
You talk about me too, you know! '
Did I say 'idiot'?
I said 'imbeciles', fool!
'There you go...
Being judgemental again.
That's what I don't like about you.
You have one of those bi-polar personalities.'
I like to refer to it as 'eccentric'.
You know...
Some of this and some of that.
'Oh yeah!
Like the different colors of MARBLES! '
AND whatchu tryin' to say, huh?
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Al Qaeda is still a threat. We cannot pretend somehow that because Barack Hussein Obama got elected as president, suddenly everything is going to be OK.
quote by Barack Obama
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Barack Obama
He is the first Blackman and the 44th U.S. President,
And 2008 U.S. Election will be remembered always!
For Barack Obama is his name.
'Say it loud! I'm Black and proud'! ! (James Brown):
For life is like the Rich Man's table and the Poor Man's Kitchen,
But my mind is faster than my fingers at times.
You have made History and,
I will use my legs to be closer to your heart;
For the 'American Dream' is all about you and i.
Being the best among your peers was like,
A thing of joy to grow up and among others;
Rather you chose to be very simple to others like,
A river flowing down to the sea and,
Coming to meet you face to face was like a warrior!
Knowing when the battle begins and ends.
Overcoming the fears and the hatred around you is like,
Barack Obama reaching out to the skies!
As far as becoming the 44th U.S. President in our time and,
Managing the affairs of others too;
As time goes by with you and your team in power!
Black bear, blue bear and the white bear;
Of a man on a vision with the truth,
So open up your eyes and try to see from him too!
143 years after the end of the Slavery in the U.S.A.,
'Change has come to America'! And,
20th January 2009 ushers in the 44th U.S. President.
It is all about the 'American Dream' and,
It is all about life!
Greetings to President Obama and his wife;
Michelle Obama (the First Lady) and the children!
Sasha and Malia should be guided too,
For this History will always be remembered.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I learn English from the next door Irish widowed Teacher!
My beloved's best friend and they make cakes together.
One day she asked me to write an essay in few lines of the difference between Mr.Obama & Mr.Osama.
I wrote; 'Mr.Obama is a strong christian
And the President of the U.S.A.
Mr.Osama is a strong Muslim and he does a research on the seabed?
Obama likes literature and Osama likes pornography
That's why I think Osama got plenty wives and Obama only one?
The teacher's very happy and hugged me in a different approach
And I was scared, stopped the classes!
When wife asked why then I explained it's a mixture of Irish & English
And very hard to by heart?
poem by Nimal Dunuhinga
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Still We Rise
The White House Is Still White, Hmm! , really, must be a figment or someones migration working on their concentration, collaboration of devastation trying to be an infiltrator of motivation.
Why has racial discrimination become so tenement in the white house?
A man and the people behind him made a dream reality, Martin Luther King Jr said it better one day and that day, when President Obama moved into the white house.
The white house is still white so why fight people there are enough wars going on around the world, let President Obama do his job, he cannot appease all he has to regulate one thing at a time.
Written by James Brown
poem by James Brown
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I just didn't want to get out there anymore; I didn't want to get back into what I call 'the swamp.' And the other reason why is I don't think it's good for the presidency for a former president to be opining about his successor. President Obama's got plenty of critics - and I'm just not gonna be one.
quote by George W. Bush
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Could Not be Scripted
We can not realize our expectations,
If many still choose to sit and not participate...
In the cause to affect change.
We all have our 'callings'.
If we allow fear to prevent us from them...
Many of us would still experience a physical bondage.
An enslavement of sorts.
With a persistence that wont quit.
To escape from mental bondage,
Requires faith...
That is determined and unshakable!
Just a few short years ago,
Maybe less than six...
A young black man named Barack Obama,
With a dysfunctional background.
And of mixed heritage,
Was not even into politics.
TODAY...
That same man with an usual name,
Is the President of The United States.
Shattering all depictions of this presence.
If 'that' is not inspiring to anyone who claims,
To be paying attention...
With expressions of their love for God,
And 'ALL' that this Deity IS...
They should not exist!
A man who walks in faith and determination,
To rise above all obstacles has been an example...
For everyone under the Sun!
Whatever racial 'affiliation' of 'choice'
And/or belief of religious limitations...
Should observe with clarity the reality.
And upon us this visitation!
This could not be scripted as a life one has lived...
Even in the money thirsting hands,
Of those in Hollywood!
President Obama's life...
Is clearly a statement that should inspire,
All mankind!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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If they understand, which I believe they really are sensing, that the alternative the Republicans have been offering is to repeal what we've done, to go back to Bush policies - and if you asked the public what would you prefer, Bush economic policies or Obama economic policies, they take and prefer Obama economic policies.
quote by Carl Levin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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