Occasional Poetry

Elizabeth Alexander took a lot of flak for her inaugural poem last week, and she has my sympathy. It's hard enough to be a poet, but to write a poem for an occasion...and beyond that, for an occasion of the historic proportions of this one..well, the pressure was on. She chose to write a prose poem, a genre that may not seem to be authentic poetry to the vast majority of her audience, as well.  A brave woman, in more ways than one.

I try not to critique other people's poems. Everyone has his or her own style and preferences. Everyone has a message and a way of delivering it that I may or may not understand. Just as in visual art, there are some artists that speak to me and others that don't. I'd like to think, however, that I can see value in their viewpoints--as should we all.

The occasional artist has a more difficult role, I think, than most. First, the subject is already defined--at least in a general sense. Most events have complete backstories, as well, and the poet, artist, musician, composer is expected to incorporate some of that history into his or her work. In a very real sense, a work created for an occasion must incorporate past, present and future; must be brief to accommodate the program; must be memorable in order to live up to the import of the event; and be able to stand alone, as it will no doubt be reproduced outside the realm of the event. This type of work must pass muster, as well, in a variety of venues. It must appeal to the average listener, as well as to the more demanding critics who will dissect it (and the artist) at their leisure. Finally, the artist must be capable of delivering the work on a very specific, incontrovertible deadline (sometimes with very limited notice), and must be able to perform it adequately for a substantial audience--whether or not she or he possesses the requisite skills in public speaking or performance.

For better or worse, and with varying degrees of success, I've faced the same sort of issues as poet laureate, albeit in much smaller venues.  Occasional poetry is not for the faint of heart, and--at least in my opinion-- Elizabeth Alexander proved herself worthy of the honor accorded her.