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Category Archives: Poetry
Billie Holiday, Abe Meeropol, and “Strange Fruit”—the Famous Song about Lynching Black People in America
By Elaine Magliaro Eleanora Fagan, better known as Billie Holiday, was a famous American jazz singer and song writer. One of her “most iconic” songs is Strange Fruit, which was first recorded in 1939. Elizabeth Blair (NPR) called the song … Continue reading
POETRY FRIDAY: Fractured Nursery Rhymes
By Elaine Magliaro Here are some of my original “fractured” nursery rhymes. Note: The poem Jack and June was included in a children’s poetry anthology titled My Cat Is in Love with the Goldfish and Other Loopy Love Poems. The … Continue reading
Posted in Humor, Poetry
Tagged Fractured Nursey Rhymes, Light Verse, Monster Goose, Original Poems, Poetical Parodies, Poetry Friday
11 Comments
Poetry Friday — Belated edition; Meet Malcolm X. London
By Charlton Stanley Recent events in the news make this young poet/storyteller/activist’s words even more meaningful. At the Louder Than a Bomb competition, teenager Malcolm London was the top individual performer for 2011, selected from over 700 competitors. His team … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Education Policy, Literature, Philosophy, Poetry
Tagged Malcolm London Chicago, Racism, Segregation
11 Comments
POETRY FRIDAY: A Few Clerihews for Those Who Enjoy Light Verse
By Elaine Magliaro It appears that light verse for adults has gone out of vogue. That saddens me. I enjoy reading the work of writers like Ogden Nash, Morris Bishop, Arthur Guiterman, and others. One of my favorite Guiterman poems … Continue reading
Make Music with Your Life—A Poem for a Retiring Teacher
By Elaine Magliaro I’m dedicating this post to my “cyber” friend Blouise—who is a true music afficiando. I had the great fortune to work at an elementary school that had many exceptional teachers. One of them was Valerie. “Val” taught … Continue reading
Posted in Music, Poetry
6 Comments
In Remembrance of Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro Maya Angelou—poet/writer/activist/teacher—published many literary works during her lifetime. Her most notable work—I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings—is her 1969 autobiography about her early years. Angelou died at her home in North Carolina on May 28th. … Continue reading
“Anthem For Doomed Youth”: A Poem by Wilfred Owen Read by Kenneth Branagh
SUBMITTED BY ELAINE MAGLIARO Anthem for Doomed Youth was written by Wilfred Owen in 1916, when he was a patient at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh, recovering from shell shock.
Posted in Literature, Poetry, War, World History, World War I
Tagged Memorial Day, Wilfred Owen
5 Comments
In Celebration of National Poetry Month: Taylor Mali Performs His Poem “I’ll Fight You for the Library”
SUBMITTED BY ELAINE MAGLIARO About Taylor Mali: Mali is a poet who “emerged from the poetry slam movement.” Mali spent nine years in the classroom. He says he taught “everything from English and history to math and S.A.T. test preparation.” He describes … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Literature, Poetry, Short Video
Tagged Education, Libraries, Teaching
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Father Ray Kelly for National Poetry Month: Hallelujah
by Chuck Stanley Words by Lucy Pitts O’Conner, age 10, from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland. This performance of Lucy’s words by Father Ray Kelly, of Oldcastle church in Meath, Ireland was on the occasion of the wedding of Chris and Leah … Continue reading
Posted in Music, Poetry, Short Video
8 Comments
A Poem for National Poetry Month: “Hatred” by Wislawa Szymborska
SUBMITTED BY ELAINE MAGLIARO Back in 1999, US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky read Wislawa’s Szymborska’s poem Hatred on the PBS Newshour Poetry Series. Unfortunately, the video of Pinsky’s poetry reading is no longer available—but the text of the poem is … Continue reading
Posted in Literature, Poetry
Tagged Hatred, Nobel Prize for Literature, Wislawa Szymborska
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