Friday, June 26, 2009
Natural Star - For Michael Jackson
© 1991 by Alice Walker
I am in mourning
For your face
The one I used to love
To see
Leaping, glowing
Upon the
The stage
The mike
Eager...
Thrusting
In your
Fist.
I am in mourning
For your face
The shining eyes
The happy teeth
The look that said
I am the world
And aren't you
Glad
Not to mention
Deeply
In luck.
I am in mourning
For
The sweet brown innocence
Of your skin
Your perfect nose
The shy smile
That lit you
Like a light.
I am in mourning
For a face
The Universe
In its goodness
Makes but once
Each
Thousand
Years
and smiles
And sends it out
To spread great joy
Itself well pleased.
I am in mourning
For your beloved face
So thoroughly
And undeservedly
Released.
Oh, my pretty little
Brother. Genius. Child.
Sing to us. Dance.
Rest in peace.
***
From Collected Poems (Her Blue Body Everything We Know) 1965-1990 by Alice Walker
Posts
Hi, Kitty,
ReplyDeletePlease explain this poem a bit. How did you find it? How did you liken its message to today's loss of Michael Jackson, if it were written as shown in 1991? What actually was happening then? (I can surmise, but then my mind wanders a bit and that might prove to be subjective.) What do you think was the real subject matter of this poem originally? However, I commend you that you would use it so aptly for this occasion. It helps us realize that the world has truly suffered such a greater loss than we ever could have imagined. I applaud the depth of the lines and of Ms. Walker's skill. Thank you for sharing.
Hi, Kitty,
ReplyDeletePlease explain this poem a bit. How did you find it? How did you liken its message to today's loss of Michael Jackson, if it were written as shown in 1991? What actually was happening then? (I can surmise, but then my mind wanders a bit and that might prove to be subjective.) What do you think was the real subject matter of this poem originally? However, I commend you that you would use it so aptly for this occasion. It helps us realize that the world has truly suffered such a greater loss than we ever could have imagined. I applaud the depth of the lines and thus of Ms. Walker's skill. Thank you for sharing.
So, okay, you don't have to respond. Ron confirmed my suspicions. I am so caught up into today's world that I overlooked the obvious -- even though I surmised that's what it could have meant at that date. Leave it to Alice Walker's wit and the poignancy of poetry. I still commend your ability for searching it out. Again I thank you.
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