Identity
Can I get back to square one?
Before the socialization,
Before the nurturing,
Before the education,
Before the indoctrination,
Before the religion,
Before the assimilation,
Before the media,
So who am I?
I’m not sure…
but I suppose someone
will tell me in time.
A fresh start at a fresh start.
-Mitch Pryor
Nice! Good poetry can take us closer to square one, or at least point to it.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to a musical playlist of identity, we should build a catalogue of identity poetry. Walt Whitman is an obvious candidate, with his "Song of Myself"-
DeleteTrippers and askers surround me,
People I meet, the effect upon me of my early life or the ward and
city I live in, or the nation,
The latest dates, discoveries, inventions, societies, authors old
and new,
My dinner, dress, associates, looks, compliments, dues,
The real or fancied indifference of some man or woman I love,
The sickness of one of my folks or of myself or ill-doing or loss or
lack of money, or depressions or exaltations,
Battles, the horrors of fatricidal war, the fever of doubtful news,
the fitful events;
These come to me days and nights and go from me again,
But they are not the Me myself.
Apart from the pulling and hauling stands what I am,
Stands amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary,
Looks down, is erect, or bends an arm on an impalpable certain
rest,
Looking with side-curved head curious what will come next,
Both in and out of the game and watching and wondering at it.
Backward I see in my own days where I sweated through fog with
linguists and contenders,
I have no mockings or arguments, I witness and wait.
http://www.garrisonkeillor.com/radio/twa-the-writers-almanac-for-june-15-2019/
NICE! I love a bit of poetry! I think it reflects last weeks class well. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI like it, Mitch! Relates to an article I just posted, too. It’s healthy to try to get at the core of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteWhat is your article about, Art? Where can we find it?
DeleteI always enjoy poetry.
ReplyDeleteAlways? You must not have encountered the poetry of the Vogons...
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysb-TwA7JCQ
https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Vogon_poetry