Poets and politics -- who would have thought it?
After all, history has birthed poets such as Federico Garcia Lorca, who was arrested in Spain for assumed left-wing political associations. Today, Sam Hamill, the founding editor of Copper Canyon Press, was invited to a poetry symposium at the White House, organized by none other than First Lady Laura Bush.
If one is a poet somewhat involved in the scene, then one most likely received an e-mail last week asking for poems against the war in Iraq to be sent to Hamill. According to The Seattle Times, Hamill received around 1,800 entries and the same day, our first lady postponed the symposium, titled "Poetry and the American Voice." It was scheduled to occur Feb. 12.
The irony is laughable for those of us who possess an overdeveloped sense of irony. Poets have throughout history been the recorders of social strife and life. Our poets, such as e.e. cummings, Maya Angelou, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Ana Castillo, Allen Ginsburg and Joy Harjo, to name a few, give the English language its beauty. But they also illustrate their fears and hopes about what we deem as "America." In fact, our poets are the "American Voice."
To shut down this voice simply because Mrs. Bush doesn't want the event "politicized," which was inevitable to begin with, is simply another facet of the many ways of muffling that pesky First Amendment thing that the Bush Administration wants little to do with. So, poets should keep writing. Poets should write and get up in front of audiences and read what they have written. Those interested should visit Hamill's Web site and post their poems at poetsagainstthewar.org. And for information on poetry venues around Albuquerque, visit www.aqbpoetryslam.org.
Let the language flow and keep this country free.
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Angela Williams
Editor in Chief
