You’ve come to the right place. At Boomer Poetry & Prose, you can take a few moments to read or hear my poems – written since 1975 – about the everyday experiences of one American woman of this era.
Having first delighted in poetry as a child, I’ve found poets to be an inspiration and comfort throughout my life. Mindfulness of the power of words led to keen pleasure in hearing the poetry in musical compositions (lyrics from Rodgers & Hammerstein to Adele).
Chief among memorable poetry experiences was hearing Maya Angelo read “On the Pulse of Morning” for the 1993 inauguration of William Jefferson Clinton and hearing Richard Blanco read “One Today” for the 2013 inaugural of Barack Hussein Obama.
Farther back is the reciting from memory by Robert Frost of his poem “A Gift Outright” at the 1961 John F. Kennedy inauguration – the first time a poet was part of the ceremony. It is said, in the bright wintry sunlight, the elderly Frost could not read a poem he wrote for the occasion. So, “Dedication” would be read 50 years later at an anniversary celebration of the inaugural.
It is telling the nation marks momentous occasions with poetry, and each poet rises to the occasion with indelible images of life in his or her times. Such is the stuff of cultural treasure. The annual celebration of poetry, started in 1996, highlights the importance of poetry in all our lives. See the Academy of American Poets’ list of 30 activities to do this month.