Thanks for introducing me to McKay--he is one who has slipped past my radar. The end of Harlem Dancer is a killer.
The poem from the Harlem Renaissance that is constantly on my mind, amid all the blame of "who started it" over the Gaza War, is Langston Hughes, Harlem.
I love your poetry posts, Noah. They are so full of deep wisdom, a passionate love of language, and an endlessly curious, thoughtful, compassionate erudition that comes from life long learning and life schooling. This is what the very best literary analysis looks and feels like. I learn so much from them--new poets, new ways of thinking about what a poet is doing. Context, history...so much. Your piece about Creeley's "Kore" was life-altering and will companion me the rest of my days. Thank you doesn't really cover how much your work matters, but thank you.
Thank you for this.
I'm pretty meh about poetry, but the way you write about it is compelling. Thanks for broadening my appreciation.
Thanks for introducing me to McKay--he is one who has slipped past my radar. The end of Harlem Dancer is a killer.
The poem from the Harlem Renaissance that is constantly on my mind, amid all the blame of "who started it" over the Gaza War, is Langston Hughes, Harlem.
What happens to a dream deferred?
.
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
.
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
.
.
Or does it explode?
I love your poetry posts, Noah. They are so full of deep wisdom, a passionate love of language, and an endlessly curious, thoughtful, compassionate erudition that comes from life long learning and life schooling. This is what the very best literary analysis looks and feels like. I learn so much from them--new poets, new ways of thinking about what a poet is doing. Context, history...so much. Your piece about Creeley's "Kore" was life-altering and will companion me the rest of my days. Thank you doesn't really cover how much your work matters, but thank you.
wow; that's extremely kind of you! I'm glad you enjoy them; they're a lot of fun to write!
Wow, that double consciousness concept is something we white people forget so quickly.
“…the ingratiating performance of identity, desire, and self that is required of a range of marginalized people—“
Performance requirements for survival.
Yikes.
Criminy.
Jesus!
Thanks for this one! Jeez.
McKay’s poetry is both lovely and heartbreaking.
he's pretty great. and really accessible; it's a shame he's not better known.