Flow Poetry Entry 2: Rediscover the urgency

In 2003, First Lady Laura Bush canceled a White House symposium on poetry because she feared the invited poets would recite poetry against war. Laura Bush defended her actions citing her freedom of speech. A spokesperson for the First Lady said, "While Mrs. Bush respects and believes in the right of all Americans to express their opinions, she too has opinions and believes that it would be inappropriate to turn what is intended to be a literary event into a political forum."

Source: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/07/0318235

"The abrupt cancellation of the symposium by the White House confirms my suspicion that the Bush administration is not interested in poetry when it refuses to remain in the ivory tower, and that this White House does not wish to open its doors to an ‘American Voice' that does not echo the Administration's misguided policies," declared Rita Dove, the nation's poet laureate from 1993 to 1995. Source: February 4, 2003 by The Nation; Poetic Protests Against War, Censorship by John Nichols

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0205-06.htm

We are all in this together. Speaking out freely is the right of all. In today’s America, speaking out is a political act. Lecturing is the duty of the politician and educator. Speaking out in a creative manner is the duty of the poet in society. This creative act in and of itself immediately changes the world by generating and/or coalescing energy. In Madison, there are many poets who gained voice and “grew up/outwards” in the wake of 9-11. I remember well the outrage this poetry community felt upon hearing that Laura Bush’s planned White House poetry reading was canceled due to concerns that some of the poet participants had prepared “un-patriotic” verse. I remember speaking out as part of community at the “Metaphors Not Wars” reading at Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse (2/12/2003) and I remember reading with others in front of 300 at “The National Spokes Of Peace Rally” on the State Capitol Steps (10/25/2003). There was urgency among poets in town at that time that seems to have since faded. While this urgency need not necessarily inform all of the spoken word produced in these parts, it is good to remember that as writers, spoken word artists, and performers, we can only be true and relevant when we are a threat to the status quo. That status quo might be political and it might be artistic. Simply parroting in spoken word what others have done, lyrically and/or rhythmically contributes to those who hold power. The spoken message must create new sound, built upon the old if it is to have any effect. The doors to power are closed intentionally against this fact: The poet is the last independent voice. Independence only occurs when the spoken word doesn’t mimic what others have already said.

http://www.poetsagainstthewar.org/