April was National Poetry Month; how wonderful that the observance has extended to the White House. I am so grateful that the Obamas have returned the arts to the national conversation. Even better, the various artists have mentored the many kids from all over the country who have been invited to learn, to share, and to showcase their own talents. I love how they do not let celebrities just come to the wWite House to gawk and to eat shrimp. They must come to serve as well.
Just finish listening to Common. And when he finish I gave him a standing ovation. The rightwingers like Hannity are just racists nuts. That’s all I can say.
Oh Common was wonderful. Those right wing nut jobs have never listened to a Common rap, hip hop song, or poem. They just spout nonsense out of their blowholes!!!!!
…but Palin/Rove and the rest of the right winf nuts don’t have problem with folks have guns at political events, etc.!!! I know these folks have an agenda…destroy Th..e President and The First Lady, but it is hard sometimes not to take this foolishness personally. As a black person, I am tired of all things “black” being wrong, dirty, unsafe, not american, etc…I am tired of all things “black” having to be explained, validated…
I still have both devices tuned in to the live stream. I can now hear and see the program on the Ipad, but there is a time lag. Still no sound from the stram on the lap top.
Jill Scott was wonderful. High School kinds are now reading their poems.
I came in too late to see/hear Common. I came in while Jill Scott was performing. I hope our wonderful Chipsticks is able to post at least Common for us grateful folks. I notice that no matter where they are or what the event – even in the White House, POTUS and FLOTUS have to handshake and hug their way out of the room. We just can’t seem to get enough of them! I ain’t mad…
This was soooooo much fun. Thanks Chipsticks for letting the TOD family know about this wonderful event. Everyone was GGRREAATT!!! But I especially loved Common, Jill Scott, Billy Collins (the Brooklyn bridge poem), The poet who wrote about the gift he made for his mon at camp, Steve Martin, the girl who talked about shayna. You know what?… i LOOOVED everyone!!! 😀
Billy Collins was poet laureate for 2 years. I have read the poem Forgetfulness and others by him with my AP students. Love his work. In times past, I have also read Rite Dove’s (not Love) poems with students. I missed her, unfortunately. I hope this is shown on PBS soon and that there will be a DVD available. I would love to share it with all of my students.
Aww… Ceb you’re an AP teacher?… Pretty cool. When I was in high school a few years ago I took all AP classes and loved all my AP teachers. More power to teachers 🙂
Lawrence O’dennel is going to show common’s poet in his show live. Well the right wingers made him and Scott the target of their racist attacks, what a shame.
😦 My internet started giving trouble as soon as it was time for the event to start 😦 and apparently came back as soon as it is OVER!! Oh boy I could call my internet company and give them a piece of my mind!!!!!!! Their service is terrible especially when you need it the most!! Now I missed everything 😦 ! Grrrr…seems like Common was good after all that bashing? Chipsticks if you could darling post videos ASAP thank you!!! Mr and Mrs Obama look wonderful as usually!! FLOTUS that dress I want!!!
Yikes, you’re right Halo, it suddenly stopped working for me too – I just re-posted it and it seems to be okay, but let me know if it’s still not working for you. It’s just a (poor quality) clip from the President’s introduction.
Out of the many events at the White House my fav is always Poetry and Jazz. This was the best poetry one so far imo. I enjoyed everybody and if I am not mistaken Common performed that same poem at the tree lighting in Dec. I enjoyed Mr. Billy Collins very much and Steve Martin was a surprise. I hope the FOX NEWS nontroversy over Common helped viewership. This event should be seen by many as possible, it was great to watch.
I am so proud of the President and First Lady to have another Poetry Evening at the Whitehouse. What an invite for so many young people to embrace this part of the Arts. I have difficulty with the ugly people from the other side always trying to find something inappropriate about how this President and First Lady entertain, educate, and encourage others to appreciate the whole person. Oh, who is Karl Rove to speak to us after all(from what we know of his actions)he did to damage this country. Oh, please. Who are these thugs Mr. Rove is talking about? Maybe he has some names for the DOJ.
Well, they certainly didn’t have whitehouse.gov/live, that’s for sure. I don’t ever remember them do anything for the arts. I heard they were in bed by 9pm. Can’t imagine them going to the theater or a dance concert. Definitely can’t see them bringing young diverse poets to the WH.
Loved Melissa’s comparison of the “rights” of the teabaggers v. the lyrics in Common’s song from long ago. Okay for white America to be armed and bring guns to a presidential event, not so for young black men to want to protect themselves against police brutality as we know it to be. And I always love me some Common. Good looking out Chips. Good nite to you and the rest of the crew.
I missed a lovely evening so it is nice to be here to read your posts. I know that WH.org has just about everything posted to see at a later time. Speaking of Bush and this will be a short moment. But sometimes he would come down to the Oval Office on Saturdays just to sit there. Someone showed up in business casual to peek in and he told him to get out. You never come into the Oval Office unless you are in a suit and tie. He never has figured out what is important. A bully who lacks true confidence. Barbara didn’t raise her sons right like the single 18 yr old Stanley Ann on welfare at times did for her son. I have to go see what Michelle was wearing at Mrs. O. I haven’t been there in a long time. Just love our get togethers here even if I am quiet.
Oh I really enjoyed Common’s bit, thanks for putting it up Chipsticks~ I so appreciate the ecclectic tastes of our President and First Lady.. theres always a little something for everyone.. and all of us get a smidgen of the whole culture that is America. This is how it ought to be with every President in the Whitehouse.
Shame on all of those that trashed this young man. I’m so tired of folks tearing up other folks merely to strike points against POTUS & FLOTUS- seriously they need to knock it off.
My poem to all of you: Night night sleep tight 😉 it’s all I got
This was truly must see tv, it’s a shame it was only on the internets. I am so glad I had a whole day of the arts. Thank you for making this so important that we were able to watch it.
And for a ‘thug’ like Karl Rove to point fingers at anyone is seriously reaching deep into the gutter. Anyone asking for, listening to, an opinion by Karl Rove is just ridiculous. What is it about the media and their gratuitous bending to the whims of these right-wing has been losers? Frankly I think we ought to have an All Rap night at the White House, heh.. that would surely have them flipping their noggins~
As a former college English professor, I am thrilled with the poetry evenings President and Mrs. Obama have! Much wonderful poetry is being written today, and this shows that poetry is not old and boring. Rita Dove and Billy Collins are two of my favorites, and when I teach adult literature classes now, I find that they are surprised with the wealth and vitality of contemporary American poetry. For too long, people thought of poetry as something old fashioned. It isn’t…the younger generation loves poetry, and has broadened poetry’s scope. I had never heard Common before, but was truly impressed with his poetry. The wonderful thing about poetry is that it is hard to define, but we know it when we hear it….and poetry is meant to be heard aloud, not read silently. That’s when it comes alive. Bravo to the President and Mrs. Obama!
Common a ‘thug’ based on the lyrics on one song. These jokers are something else. They are a bit late though in complaining as Common has been a regular visitor to the WH, since the Obamas moved in. Thanks Chips, I really enjoyed it.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Rita Love (?) and Aimee Mann are pretty cool. Waiting with bated breath for Common.
Did Jill Scott go on already. Saw Common he was on fire!
April was National Poetry Month; how wonderful that the observance has extended to the White House. I am so grateful that the Obamas have returned the arts to the national conversation. Even better, the various artists have mentored the many kids from all over the country who have been invited to learn, to share, and to showcase their own talents. I love how they do not let celebrities just come to the wWite House to gawk and to eat shrimp. They must come to serve as well.
Listening to Common now.
“One King’s dream, he was able to Barack us.”
Just finish listening to Common. And when he finish I gave him a standing ovation. The rightwingers like Hannity are just racists nuts. That’s all I can say.
I know right. I was clapping and whooping like I was actually in the audience. He did really good.
Oh Common was wonderful. Those right wing nut jobs have never listened to a Common rap, hip hop song, or poem. They just spout nonsense out of their blowholes!!!!!
…but Palin/Rove and the rest of the right winf nuts don’t have problem with folks have guns at political events, etc.!!! I know these folks have an agenda…destroy Th..e President and The First Lady, but it is hard sometimes not to take this foolishness personally. As a black person, I am tired of all things “black” being wrong, dirty, unsafe, not american, etc…I am tired of all things “black” having to be explained, validated…
Who was used crosshairs…oh yeah, PALIN!
I was so very proud of Common, he was GOOOOD! I was clapping right alone with you anniebella. Jill….Jill…one word AWESOME! She is so beautiful.
Ugh! of course I meant “White House”
Jill Scott is up now, but there is no audio(watching on my laptop). On my IPad, I get the loading icon and no picture.
I LOVED ALL OF JILL SCOTT’S POEMS!!! The whole audience went “aww”. She was great.
MeaBloom…yes she was. She made me smile…she is so real!
I still have both devices tuned in to the live stream. I can now hear and see the program on the Ipad, but there is a time lag. Still no sound from the stram on the lap top.
Jill Scott was wonderful. High School kinds are now reading their poems.
CEB, sometimes you just have to click on the speaker icon to jump the sound.
Loved the lanyard poem. So funny!
I know right?… Made me want to text my mum and tell her how much I Love her 🙂
That was so much fun. Jill was great, Yusuf was great and the lady that took off her shoes. What a nice way for my president to end his day.
Jill Scott was awesome. The entire program was pretty good.
I came in too late to see/hear Common. I came in while Jill Scott was performing. I hope our wonderful Chipsticks is able to post at least Common for us grateful folks. I notice that no matter where they are or what the event – even in the White House, POTUS and FLOTUS have to handshake and hug their way out of the room. We just can’t seem to get enough of them! I ain’t mad…
Hey GGail.. Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC is about to show part of Common’s poem ….. so tune in. I’m going to be watching it again… 😀
Is that wink for me?
Yusuf was really good. So talented and so good looking too.
I hope to see and hear about him more in the future.
This was soooooo much fun. Thanks Chipsticks for letting the TOD family know about this wonderful event. Everyone was GGRREAATT!!! But I especially loved Common, Jill Scott, Billy Collins (the Brooklyn bridge poem), The poet who wrote about the gift he made for his mon at camp, Steve Martin, the girl who talked about shayna. You know what?… i LOOOVED everyone!!! 😀
Yeah, It was a nice evening, I enjoyed and clapped and smiled, and chuckled, as If I was there. Thanks a lot Chips, you are a Gem 🙂
Oh, I liked Flotus outfit and the color, beautiful 🙂
Billy Collins was poet laureate for 2 years. I have read the poem Forgetfulness and others by him with my AP students. Love his work. In times past, I have also read Rite Dove’s (not Love) poems with students. I missed her, unfortunately. I hope this is shown on PBS soon and that there will be a DVD available. I would love to share it with all of my students.
Aww… Ceb you’re an AP teacher?… Pretty cool. When I was in high school a few years ago I took all AP classes and loved all my AP teachers. More power to teachers 🙂
Very cool and THANK YOU for enlightening and enriching your students!
Wow…. Chipsticks you already have video and pictures up already?… You’re a freaking GENIUS… I repeat.. freaking GENIUS!!!!!
Lawrence O’dennel is going to show common’s poet in his show live. Well the right wingers made him and Scott the target of their racist attacks, what a shame.
That’s Rita Dove; prize-winning poet.
Hahahaha.. thanks Ceb.. I wasn’t sure if it was Love or Dove. 😀
Just enjoy the glow from the poetry and ignore the philistines.
That lighting in the room is so cozy and calm. What a romantic evening of poetry the first couple enjoyed? Love them to pieces.
In honor of poetry night, here’s our ode to Newt:
Donkey, Donkey old and gray
Donkey let me hear you bray
Donkey, Donkey carry on
Donkey, raise your tail and blow your horn.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha 😆 😆 😆 ROFLMAO… OMG.. I think I’m going to choke on my laughter.
Haha! Good job, hopefruit!
LOL! great hopefruit!
😦 My internet started giving trouble as soon as it was time for the event to start 😦 and apparently came back as soon as it is OVER!! Oh boy I could call my internet company and give them a piece of my mind!!!!!!! Their service is terrible especially when you need it the most!! Now I missed everything 😦 ! Grrrr…seems like Common was good after all that bashing? Chipsticks if you could darling post videos ASAP thank you!!! Mr and Mrs Obama look wonderful as usually!! FLOTUS that dress I want!!!
Chipsticks, is it just me or the video you posted doesn’t seem to be loading?
Yikes, you’re right Halo, it suddenly stopped working for me too – I just re-posted it and it seems to be okay, but let me know if it’s still not working for you. It’s just a (poor quality) clip from the President’s introduction.
Yeah its not loading for me too 😦 . Today is not my day sigh…..
Refresh the page and try it again P!
No luck yet. But no big deal. So is this your strategy to keep getting blog hits?! 😉 Whatever it takes to get you to 2 million!
Still no luck…but I am patient I am sure you’ll have others vids up as soon as you get them!
Still nuttin honey.
Out of the many events at the White House my fav is always Poetry and Jazz. This was the best poetry one so far imo. I enjoyed everybody and if I am not mistaken Common performed that same poem at the tree lighting in Dec. I enjoyed Mr. Billy Collins very much and Steve Martin was a surprise. I hope the FOX NEWS nontroversy over Common helped viewership. This event should be seen by many as possible, it was great to watch.
Our president is so fine.
Ohhh thanks so much for posting this, I was gone and had to missed it.. gonna eat my dinner & relax with the poets at the Whitehouse now, 🙂 🙂
I am so proud of the President and First Lady to have another Poetry Evening at the Whitehouse. What an invite for so many young people to embrace this part of the Arts. I have difficulty with the ugly people from the other side always trying to find something inappropriate about how this President and First Lady entertain, educate, and encourage others to appreciate the whole person. Oh, who is Karl Rove to speak to us after all(from what we know of his actions)he did to damage this country. Oh, please. Who are these thugs Mr. Rove is talking about? Maybe he has some names for the DOJ.
Did Laura Bush do poetry during the Bush years? See I didn’t know what happened in the white house ever before the Obamas.
She had to put W to bed by 9:00PM, so I doubt there was Poetry Evening then, unless they had the sessions in the morning or afternoon.
Well, they certainly didn’t have whitehouse.gov/live, that’s for sure. I don’t ever remember them do anything for the arts. I heard they were in bed by 9pm. Can’t imagine them going to the theater or a dance concert. Definitely can’t see them bringing young diverse poets to the WH.
Thanks Chipsticks for the videos!! 🙂 Common was great!!
Thanks Chip for the clip (see I can rhyme too) of Common and Lawrence. Peace out!
Loved Melissa’s comparison of the “rights” of the teabaggers v. the lyrics in Common’s song from long ago. Okay for white America to be armed and bring guns to a presidential event, not so for young black men to want to protect themselves against police brutality as we know it to be. And I always love me some Common. Good looking out Chips. Good nite to you and the rest of the crew.
I missed a lovely evening so it is nice to be here to read your posts. I know that WH.org has just about everything posted to see at a later time. Speaking of Bush and this will be a short moment. But sometimes he would come down to the Oval Office on Saturdays just to sit there. Someone showed up in business casual to peek in and he told him to get out. You never come into the Oval Office unless you are in a suit and tie. He never has figured out what is important. A bully who lacks true confidence. Barbara didn’t raise her sons right like the single 18 yr old Stanley Ann on welfare at times did for her son. I have to go see what Michelle was wearing at Mrs. O. I haven’t been there in a long time. Just love our get togethers here even if I am quiet.
Oh I really enjoyed Common’s bit, thanks for putting it up Chipsticks~ I so appreciate the ecclectic tastes of our President and First Lady.. theres always a little something for everyone.. and all of us get a smidgen of the whole culture that is America. This is how it ought to be with every President in the Whitehouse.
Shame on all of those that trashed this young man. I’m so tired of folks tearing up other folks merely to strike points against POTUS & FLOTUS- seriously they need to knock it off.
My poem to all of you: Night night sleep tight 😉 it’s all I got
Oh, there she is. Thanks Chips for posting the lovely evening.
This was truly must see tv, it’s a shame it was only on the internets. I am so glad I had a whole day of the arts. Thank you for making this so important that we were able to watch it.
And for a ‘thug’ like Karl Rove to point fingers at anyone is seriously reaching deep into the gutter. Anyone asking for, listening to, an opinion by Karl Rove is just ridiculous. What is it about the media and their gratuitous bending to the whims of these right-wing has been losers? Frankly I think we ought to have an All Rap night at the White House, heh.. that would surely have them flipping their noggins~
As a former college English professor, I am thrilled with the poetry evenings President and Mrs. Obama have! Much wonderful poetry is being written today, and this shows that poetry is not old and boring. Rita Dove and Billy Collins are two of my favorites, and when I teach adult literature classes now, I find that they are surprised with the wealth and vitality of contemporary American poetry. For too long, people thought of poetry as something old fashioned. It isn’t…the younger generation loves poetry, and has broadened poetry’s scope. I had never heard Common before, but was truly impressed with his poetry. The wonderful thing about poetry is that it is hard to define, but we know it when we hear it….and poetry is meant to be heard aloud, not read silently. That’s when it comes alive. Bravo to the President and Mrs. Obama!
Carolyn,
My sentiments exactly.
Common a ‘thug’ based on the lyrics on one song. These jokers are something else. They are a bit late though in complaining as Common has been a regular visitor to the WH, since the Obamas moved in. Thanks Chips, I really enjoyed it.