Monday, March 26, 2007

Our Local Poet

Welcome to "The Gods Are Bored," rejecting the straight and narrow for the big, broad, flexible boulevard! Seat belts optional, but recommended.

Why the hell would anyone want to live in Southern New Jersey? Damned if I know. But here we are, and as with all humans, we need something to brag about.

Our "something" is Walt Whitman. He is buried but not forgotten in Camden, NJ, the city in which he spent the end of his interesting life.

Today marks the 115th anniversary of Whitman's death. Or so says the Monkey Man, and who am I to argue with the Monkey Man? You should hear him recite Walt Whitman!

Here's a little verse from Whitman to get you through your day. Give your bored god a holiday and meditate on this magnificent poet.

O Me! O Life!
by Walt Whitman.

O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless--of cities fill'd with the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light--of the objects mean--of the struggle ever renew'd;
Of the poor results of all--of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;
Of the empty and useless years of the rest--with the rest me intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring--What good amid these, O me, O life?

Answer.

That you are here--that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.

PIZZA & POETRY NITE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2007
SLICE OF NEW YORK PIZZA
3rd AND COOPER STREETS
CAMDEN, NJ

(BYOB)

2 comments:

BBC said...

Walt was an interesting man for his time. I've been in parts of New Jersey that are pretty country like, not so many monkeys in it.

But the cities, argh!!

BBC said...

I just spotted an interesting quote.

ON GOING TO HEAVEN "I've done benefits for ALL religions.
I'd hate to blow the hereafter on a technicality." Bob Hope