The following are the more recent Poets Laureate of the United States

Kay Ryan, WS Merwin, Philip Levine, Natasha Trethewey, Charles Wright,

Juan Felipe Herrera, Tracy K Smith, and Joy Harjo

A symptom of my age (77) is that when I think of Poets Laureate of the United States,I picture the then to

me ancient hero Robert Frost

reading "The Gift Outright" at the John F. Kennedy inaugural January 21st 1961. The poem was nowhere near to being the 4-time Pulitzer Prize winner and 31 time Nobel Prize nominee's greatest work, but, specifically requested by JFK, it was an excellent poem of occasion delivered rather poorly from his memory due to the strong wind and sun.

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman did an outstanding job at the January 20, 2020 Biden inaugural with her poem of occasion "The Hill We Climb." The following passage demonstrates Gorman's genuine poetic promise:

And no one shall make them afraid.

If we’re to live up to our own time,

then victory won’t lie in the blade

but in all the bridges we’ve made.

That is the promise to glade

the hill we climb

if only we dare it.

Because being American is more than a pride we inherit.

It’s the past we step into

and how we repair it.

Joy Harjo

, (born May 9, 1951,Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.),

American poet, writer, academic, musician, and Native American activist whose poems featured Indian symbolism, imagery, history, and ideas set within a universal context. Her poetry also dealt with social and personal issues notably feminism, and with music notably jazz.

Here is one example of Harjo's notable poetry;

BY JOY HARJO

To pray you open your whole self

To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon

To one whole voice that is you.

And know there is more

That you can’t see, can’t hear;

Can’t know except in moments

Steadily growing, and in languages

That aren’t always sound but other

Circles of motion.

Like eagle that Sunday morning

Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky

In wind, swept our hearts clean

With sacred wings.

We see you, see ourselves and know

That we must take the utmost care

And kindness in all things.

Breathe in, knowing we are made of

All this, and breathe, knowing

We are truly blessed because we

Were born, and die soon within a

True circle of motion,

Like eagle rounding out the morning

Inside us.

We pray that it will be done

In beauty.

NIKKI GIOVANNI

I thought 50 years ago that I could make a big difference in the world. What I know now is that I won't allow the world to make a big difference in me. That's what's incredibly important. I'm not going to let the fact that I live in a nation with a bunch of fools make a fool out of me.
- Nikki Giovanni

Poem for a Lady Whose Voice I Like

so he said: you ain’t got no talent
if you didn’t have a face
you wouldn’t be nobody

and she said: god created heaven and earth
and all that’s Black within them

so he said: you ain’t really no hot shit
they tell me plenty sisters
take care better business than you

and she said: on the third day he made chitterlings
and all good things to eat
and said: “that’s good”

so he said: if the white folks hadn’t been under
yo skirt and been giving you the big play
you’d a had to come on uptown like everybody else

and she replied: then he took a big Black greasy rib
from adam and said we will call this woeman and her
name will be sapphire and she will divide into four parts
that simone may sing a song

and he said: you pretty full of yourself ain’t chu

so she replied: show me someone not full of herself
and i’ll show you a hungry person

Love Is
Some people forget that love is
tucking you in and kissing you
'Good night'
no matter how young or old you are
Some people don't remember that
love is
listening and laughing and asking
questions
no matter what your age
Few recognize that love is
commitment, responsibility
no fun at all
unless

Love is
You and me

Comment or Read Comments Here on any of the above or below. If you do not have a Google account, then log in by checking "Name/URL," (it's easy). Just the name (don't worry about the URL). Actual name is best, but use what you like. Or email me at edjcoletti(AT)gmail.com, and I can post it.

Read Three Times and Call Me in the Morning - Ed Coletti

Command yourself

to read a poem

three times

at each single session

to understand how much

it can offer you and

other readers over time

Notice that this is how

one rare poem

will call to attention

the restless soul from

marking time at ease

Several By Jack Crimmins

Sneaking This Poem In On You

the way the river bends
or her spooning body
lost and found 
you misplaced distance 
that afternoon of shadows
sold your busted canoe
to the true hippie there
waiting near the avenue
she couldn't say the words
so I'm sneaking this poem
in on you even though
you say trust the moon
I just heard your slant rhymes 
your chants against 
the government and yet
as it was said in that old blues 
no one spoke up they had
money to lose even Republican 
politicians may bemoan 
their fate soon
and make excuses
for the last four years 
all power corrupts 
except individual truth
highway towns
and woods of faith
lead the way 
this grave of mine 
dug years ago
no fortune not a way
forward in the dark
except in the book
a few stars
if I add in dreams
you'll see 
a regular glory
hawks and buzzards
a plan again for leaving 
just after I sneak this 
poem in and say
hello America
goodbye forgotten songs
Republicans with heart
are voting blue and
here's your remedy
downhearted 
lift your eyes
to the light the sky
	- Jack Crimmins

WHY THE POEMS OF AUTUMN DARK DON'T TELL OF SPRING

angles and designs
depth of knowledge
how the redwoods

are standing when
the park is closed
after fire reached
the edge of things
and you ask about
the dark poems of
autumn wherein
you know people
who are alone now
and afraid maybe
without enough of
true warmth in the
house at midnight
with shadows and
cold weather as a
symbol of fear and
you're waiting for
the poem to give
heart or sustenance
this is where stars
come in from away
I have however
nothing to say
about the moon
and the hunger
in America before
we even get to
winter let alone
that hope that
poems can heal
and yet with luck
some healing oh
heading your way
this way that way
round about now
buzzards circle
as a good sign
this vibrant land
you are also key
to the bright wild
landscape here
and we go on
sustained in
autumn with
the winds and
maybe even rain
let your life oh
shine like the day
after fog burns off
our true low sun
a bit of warmth
after all even

-- Jack Crimmins

(Ed Coletti's) NO MONEY IN POETRY

Monday, January 25, 2021

Poets Laureate/Youth Poet Laureate/Giovanni/Crimmins/Coletti/

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman did an outstanding job at the January 20, 2020 Biden inaugural with her poem of occasion "The Hill We Climb." The following passage demonstrates Gorman's genuine poetic promise:

Joy Harjo

, (born May 9, 1951,Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.),

American poet, writer, academic, musician, and Native American activist whose poems featured Indian symbolism, imagery, history, and ideas set within a universal context. Her poetry also dealt with social and personal issues notably feminism, and with music notably jazz.

Here is one example of Harjo's notable poetry;

Sneaking This Poem In On You

Monday, January 25, 2021

Poets Laureate/Youth Poet Laureate/Giovanni/Crimmins/Coletti/

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman did an outstanding job at the January 20, 2020 Biden inaugural with her poem of occasion "The Hill We Climb." The following passage demonstrates Gorman's genuine poetic promise:

Joy Harjo, (born May 9, 1951,Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.),

American poet, writer, academic, musician, and Native American activist whose poems featured Indian symbolism, imagery, history, and ideas set within a universal context. Her poetry also dealt with social and personal issues notably feminism, and with music notably jazz.

Here is one example of Harjo's notable poetry;

Sneaking This Poem In On You

Joy Harjo

, (born May 9, 1951,Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.),