Poet Elizabeth Alexander @ inauguration

[moonlight715]

This is completely horrible O_O WTF?!?!

[lulumariemissypu]

Good lord woman! I guess it was prophetic to the doom that lay ahead.

[Punax]

listening. - to. - her. - weird. - delivery. - is. -almost. - painful.

[LadyofBammare]

@Punax

It. makes. me. embarrassed. to. be. a. poet.



[7thBOSS]

please don't even try to defend this poem. it's just terrible. period.

[vzdan]

I understand why people don't like this poem, Praising the daily nonsensical things each and everyone does!? might not sound like much, but it is what get things done, or bridges build. I found it really clever. I wish though about that. :)

[ericamiriam]

Happy President's Day, here on YOUtube is our tribute to the beautiful story of Barack Obama's parents: IMAGINE by The Robin and The Lady Poet (Erica Miriam Fabri and Robin Andre)

[lmb2191]

kid at 3:12 knows whats up

[irishmermaid4]

Crap with a bow on it is still crap.

[Bamboozle25]

She is the mom of a kid at my school and she came to do it at my school.

[mythcrusher]

Compare this multicultural tripe to Robert Frost's brilliant poem at JFK's inaugural. Not even close. But then Obama's not JFK, is he?

[haveu4gotten]

BOOOOORRRRRIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!!

[scottluvsjenna]

Guys, give her a break.... well, yes, the poem was so long BUT it was beautiful... poetry is supposed to be like that.. dont bring others down, its brutal........

[LAX324]

I felt kind of bad for her too. But this poem was not good and her delivery was weak. I wish they got Maya Angelou because she knows how to write and most importantly she knows how to give a good presentation.

[frootloops116]

@LAX324 oh, indeed.

[archfruit]

People either slept of laughed the whole time.

[sean212NYC]

it's about all of us and our respective pasts and histories moving forward "hopefully" into the future. It also describes our methods of interaction and communication with each other and that the most important and hopeful interaction and communication is Love.

[2222anonymous2222]

FUCKING SUCKED "poets muddy their waters to appear deep"

[xkoopa007x]

you guys have no sense of literature and poetry...

[xpirategirl23x]

I know poetry and this sucked.

[ZeroMyHero99]

What the hell is she talking about?

[AllwaysNeverRandom]

i think it was okay... i think most of the people who hate it dont know poetry.

[ccc9823]

each..........................­.........other

[leafsfan9917]

That was horrible "or not" Lol

[arsepoetica71]

"the figuring it out at kitchen tables"

"...the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of"

"love that casts a widening pool of light"

"in today's sharp sparkle...anything can be made"

wow....any aspiring writer can take a lesson in what not to do from this clip

[arsepoetica71]

if she wasn't already a professor at Yale nobody would publish her god-awful poetry. this is crap with a capital K.

[ejayarts]

oh, its only 4 minutes? that felt like an hour

[acnyn]

all about us is noise, bramble, thorn and din. life has a new meaning!

[ramza675]

BEST FAUKIN POEM EVER 6 STARS

[jeff123jason]

holy shit she sucks soooooo hard wtf kind of poem was that

[kkapdolee]

This poem is great..... or not

[ghostsshAdow234]

right before the audience claps they all thought

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?"

[ghostsshAdow234]

It started good..then it became a rape of the English language

[webkinzsplashx]

"catching each others eyes...... or not" LOl :)

[npl148]

Maybe i'm just not cultured, but this is garbage.

[ZeroMyHero99]

No, this is garbage!

[Paulwhoisvegan]

so true! boring

[StevenShields29]

Praise song for the day? Is that idol worship of songs or something you would hear on a Christian radio station?

Each one of our ancestors on our tongues? They're too heavy, wouldn't that just crush our tongues?

What if the mightiest word is love. Do you mean "what if the mightiest word WERE love"?

Why praise song? Is it a god?

I knew Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou was a friend of mine. Professor, you are no Maya Angelou.

[ZombiePanda285]

This is really really bad.. :c

She sounds like my grandpa when he just rambles on "/

Haha all I heard was lettuce, neighbor, love, & harmonica.. x(

[looseymoose96]

"The teacher says 'Take out your pencils, begin'" WTF IS THAT?????

[coasterman16]

Poet? Maybe... Orator? Absolutely not.

[Urbanz1975]

THIS POEM IS HORRIBLE... HORRIBLE!!! Yes caps were meant.

[weezy908]

Hoonestly i thought the same thing bcuz i didnt understand what the hell she was saying but if you take the time to listen to the words and read the lines of the poem you will see that she is eloquently describing this historic event from the perspective of minorities, upper class citizens, average joes, and so much more. My teacher told me...her poem may be boring and misunderstood but the meaning is very powerful. You should take the time to look into.

[gr1m212]

this poem is beautifully written, a lot of good concepts and universal ideas. and it makes perfect sense for obama's change idea...it brings up the idea of generalization of the nation.

but i absolutely hate this fucking poem because of how stupid it is. an ambigious poem woulda been better leaving people being like "hmm what did they just say to me?"

but whatever...liz alexander is a good poet.

[poopshoot106]

please that poem sucked ass through a straw

[yukaigrrl921]

the delivery was terrible.

[jcsrealty]

The best part of that poem - is the way she says: Praise song for the day... LOL

[richardlovesuu]

I think poet Nikki Giovanni should have been the Inaugural Poet.

[awarh]

somewhat disappointing -- I was expecting something a bit more inspiring.

[munks68]

im not that interested in poetry and stuff but even i know poetry rymes

[Therine27]

haha...not all poetry friend. ever here of ee cummings?

[bloodhawkisawesome]

LOL she doesent even make fuckin sense

[Therine27]

i commend Obama's efforts to give a little-known poet the stage.I also commend Alexander for attempting to tackle the daunting task that stood before her. Let this be a lesson to us all: a poet does not a performing poet make.

the poem in text is actually quite beautiful...

[Obscurus1]

Elizabeth Alexander is actually quite famous......just so you know

[Therine27]

i like reading and writing poetry. i like listening to people read their own poetry. anyone who has ever had to write a poem for a specific event knows how difficult the pressure can be. now magnify that by one of THE most important moments in American history. Now imagine reading the poem in front of all of America and the world. Obama may have considered leaning towards someone that had more faith in their own ability to deliver poetry. It's far removed from knowing how to write poetry.

[notalibertard]

just like the demonrats electing odumbo...the poem was a pathetic joke and so is odumbo

[alanas1100]

i have to print this poem for my homework, i kinda dont get the poem lol but it must have been scary to go up there

[ur1schist1is1gneiss]

painful.

[dugongyogurt]

Is

funky, is

Here's another example of her genius:

rleaky, is

a soggy, bloody crotch, is

sharp jets of breast milk shot straight across the room,

is gaudy, mustard-colored poop, is

postpartum tears that soak the babys lovely head.

[truthforamerica]

If I had written this in English class, I would have gotten a F. What an absolute load of crap. I guess it was the grand slam after the inauguration rant.

[sherral68]

My dd's freshman honors english teacher said that if one of her students had written that "poem" she'd have given them a novice! LOL

[daydreambelieverrr]

Aw, I feel bad.

You're all being harsh, lol. It may not be a great poem but she got up there in front of a million people, I give her credit for that.

[notalibertard]

just like an apologist ! no matter how fucking stupid the poem and odumbo is...the liberals make excuses for this garbage!...the american people got sucked right in!

fucking fools!

[daydreambelieverrr]

I said it WASN'T great. I was just giving her credit for going out there and talking infront of a million people. Sorry, if I was being too positive for you.

I didn't like the poem personally, but I'm not going to call it garbage...maybe I just don't get it.

[notalibertard]

...the problem with liberal idiots is that they just can't...just can't see things for what they really are!...the poem IS garbage and there is NOTHING wrong with stating the truth! Same thing with the odumbo bunch!...They're corrupt criminals! What do you have to see before you cretins understand that?what would happen say if..odumbo's old senate seat was being SOLDor if say,the nominee for Sec Treas was a tax cheat?..oh wait!....THEY DID...and he IS!.need I mention Billary or Biden the dork?

[duncwood07]

theres a reason why people who agree with you are out of office now. your ignorance is what has plagued this country for so long, hopefully you wont procreate and corrupt the mind of an innocent child by trying to raise him with views of inequality and intolerance.

[notalibertard]

lol..you asshole! I live in Canada...it's assholes like you that ruined our society!..and when odumbo the Marxist is exposed and impeached..WE will have the last laugh!

how can you say anything with a straight face when you morons elected this clown?

[bloodhawkisawesome]

hey not all of us are morons lol

[darlena1956]

This is about poetry. Not about politics.

[cresta141]

I heard on Weekend edition Saturday the interview that Scott Simon made of her delivering the poem. It called my full attention... I was very disappointed when I heard what she delivered. I didn't get one meaning of what she was saying. I guess I wasn't the only one!... Bad choice Barack, Bad choice!

[NYCsistahofvirtue]

I really tried to positive...but this poem was really whack! Maya and Langston I am sure are disappointed.

[PPeterPPiper]

Worst

Fucking poem

Ever

Go

Sit down

and

shut

the

fuck up

My poem just owned her poem.

[muddykipz]

it shares some pretty trite sentiments.

[thelanatic]

Maya Angelou's poem for Bill Clinton's inauguration was a beautifully crafted work of art. This tripe was just a poorly written speech that sounded like it was put together one stanza at a time by a bunch of 5th graders.

/FAIL

[TyredUvBS]

she's no maya angelou that's for sure

[nadiahas]

Though their is a deep meaning and irony n her poetry, She is reading the poem like she is talking to kindergarten kids

[shlizmos]

Can you blame her, that's the literacy level we've been accustomed to for the last 8 years.

[notalibertard]

talking to hordes of liberal morons IS just like talking to kinder kids!...all of them drunk on kool aid! all of them with their heads so far up odumbo's asshole that they can't even hear this garbage let alone understand this crap!

[surfingstooge1234]

cheeck this video out after you watch her speech again

[shalgau]

Aaaaaaaah, my brains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jasonrtaylor]

This was the best part of the inauguration. This was beautiful that it made me cry.

[datgurlsmiilesz]

That was like the most confusing poem ever LOL

he should have asked maya angelou..

[reydetuto]

Quite possibly the worst poem I've ever heard. I am now dumber for having heard it.

[shlizmos]

...and so much smarter for having watched Billy Madison.

[Corelila]

To those of us who were in classrooms with tears streaming down our faces.

Somewhere, there is a child, making fun of you.

In Iowa, waiting for a bus, said child's cat got run over by that bus.

I am a better poet than her, and i'm 15.

[shalgau]

This poem is well worth the inaguration!

Sound like the voice on my GPS. Obama approves this message.

[Rupeandemma]

Huh?

Sounds like she's reading from her TO DO list.

lol

If this woman is considered a poet, then we ALL are poets.

[loopdiloop89]

what tha fuck? that was so damn random! you could listen to this over and over again and still have no idea what she's trying to say

[boalola]

LOL 3:16

[thetrevormoment]

lmfao michelle looks pissed and some guy behind her is asleep!

[boalola]

LOL, look at the person behind her, he has the stupidest look on his face, kinda like... wtf?

[n2lccruzer]

She seemed to strive for an Aaron Copeland size sweep of he American folk experience but she lacks the voice or style to pull it off. It ran on. She was losing her audience. Did you see the restless foot over her left shoulder?

[bartholemew4life]

Did you see Obama's wife's expression. It was like, "What?"

[PaigeAlison44]

ahahhaha.

sooo funny.

worst poem ever.

ahaha, my class was cracking up when she said... "teachers say....take out your pencils."

ahhahhahahhaa. sooo bad.

[brunocrosier]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

THIS WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY FOR THE BIGGEST FAILURE EVER!

LITERALLY THE BIGGEST POETRY GIG EVER, WITH THE WORST POEM EVER!

that is just quality entertainment lol

[bstnrdsxfrk]

Oh wow, that was an amazing comeback. Did you think of that yourself?

[bstnrdsxfrk]

HAHAHAHA

Poem: 15/100

Delivery: 3/100

Everyone in my class was rolling on the floor with laughter after the first 20 seconds.

[Marquiffe]

You must be in the retarded class.

[bartholemew4life]

LMFAO that's hilarious.

[jhu2012]

fail...epic fail.

[righttolife2008]

Sucky, lame, it BITES.

[jackiam]

My God, this makes Maya Angelou look like Robert Frost.

[notokibo]

zzzZZZzzzZZZzzz hmm? what? it ended? wow that was quick.

[Codeblue1000]

Wow that sucked! I've heard better poems in high school! It didn't make any sense what so ever!

[Philosophos07]

Quite a beautiful poem. The words were perfectly chosen, and really create a lyrical landscape of the American folk-struggle. The entire inauguration really does a masterful job of using metaphor to present the American experience with its challenges and triumphs to the world in the most vivid way. Let us turn that metaphor into action. We have the history, tradition, culture, and ambition to achieve what our ancestors began. God bless America and the world.

[Marquiffe]

Thanks for the intelligent comment.

[notalibertard]

you are a complete idiot!..that was NOT a poem!..it was mumbo jumbo from a jungle bunny!

fuckin' brain dead traitors!

[Spazdude222]

Is anyone else reminded of Dr. Spock? She pauses between words and refuses to fluctuate her voice. Picture her saying this "You have selected Microsoft Sam as the computer's default voice."

[sparkleenhancer]

garbage. utter garbage.

[Sherry2987]

Good poem, delivered very well, I thought. Thanks for a well-done video. I don't understand the first five comments and think that President Obama made a good choice when he called on Elizabeth Alexander.

[Lasereye360]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Lasereye360]

Hahahahaahahahahaha

[szeeck]

Wow she sucked. It was sad that this was after the great speech.

Like BMD101 said. Worst...poem...ever

Epic Fail

[davidinfo13]

so lofty....so profound....so confusing.....so idiotic...la la la

[mrowlou]

huh?

[bwt100]

Seriously Holy Shit! Unbelievable! She is a poet?

[horizons777]

What the ##??*** did she say ??? Fitting end to a lackluster speech...

[BMD101]

Worst... Poem... Ever....