REFLECTIONS by Uncle John
Spring 2004, Washington, D.C.
"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people
some of the time, but you can´t fool all of the people all of the time."
--Abraham Lincoln
Washington, D.C. is a hotbed of poetry. It is a town like ancient Greece or Rome with its huge rolling columns, statues and continuing history. It is a place of reflection and signs for inspiration. There’s a lot of biblical references here and unique antiquated architecture. It’s the week of the cherry blossom festival. I’m searching for a museum called Folkways Recordings when I stumble upon the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. I’m here to attend a poetry reading to celebrate and open National Poetry Month. The main event here is at the library, a poetry happening called “Taking Poetry to the Street”, with poetry slams for middle and high school students, poetry performances, jazz music, poetry workshops, films, books and readings. It's also National Library week this month (April).
Uncle John
Poetry Reading
Java Head Café, Washington, D.C.
THE PICTURE TELLS THE STORY
Washington D.C. Photo Credits: "REFLECTIONS" by Uncle John
1> Bob Dylan poster w/Capital Dome reflected in background
2> Dylan's truck after equipment unloaded reflecting life on the road
3> Abraham Lincoln quote Government reflects the people
4> Saluting Lincoln @ The Memorial where I discover read & reflect on Abe's Poetry
5> Reflection of Painting of dancers on wall of Lincoln memorial
6> Lincoln Reflecting in "The Peacemakers", painting in White House
7> Washington monument in the Reflecting Pool
8> The White House reflecting off the lamplighter
9> Reflecting on this natural reaction at the Lincoln Memorial
10> Looking out from the Lincoln Memorial through the urn to the reflecting Monument
11> The Washington Capitol at night reflecting on the river
12> The Lincoln Memorial in the Reflection Pool
13> Reflection by picture of Jazz paintings on the subway wall
14> The reflecting headlights of the President's vehicle
15> Reflecting Sign: @ The Java Head Cafe, Uncle John's Poetry Reading
"The Picture Tells The Story", celebrating National Library month
16> Old photograph mirroring Abraham Lincoln, Photographer: A. C. Townsend, Enterprise Gallery
17> Bob Weir 9:30 Club, Washington D.C. March 31, 2004. Live Reflection Photo: Terry Rogers
Bob Weir & RatDog, Fastest LIVE CD Recording Release, DeadDisc, within two hours after the show
In college, my first year major was Political Science.
CHILDREN
PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Mahmoud Al Tamimi, age 11, Jerusalem
Art for Peace
PEACEFUL SKY
Ehor, 4 years old, Ukraine
BLACK LIVES
GWENDOLYN BROOKS & LANGSTON HUGHES
You are a dancy little thing,
You are a rascal, star!
You seem to be so near to me,
And yet you are so far.
If I could get you in my hands,
You´d never get away.
I´d keep you with me always,
You´d shine both night and day.
--Gwendolyn Brooks
The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.
The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people.
Beautiful, also, is the sun.
Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.
--Langston Hughes
Both poets had an influential impact on me in college & their work inspired me
to become a poet, teacher and writer.
It was literary author Jonathan Kozol
who introduced me to the work of both these writers.
When Jonathan was an undergraduate at Harvard College,
majoring in English Literature,
he never heard of Gwendolyn Brooks, or Langston Hughes,
or any other black American writer.
In 1967, Jonathan Kozol, a young white teacher in the poor, black section of Boston
was fired for reading a Langston Hughes poem to his fourth grade students.
Jonathan Kozol understands the inner city lives of black children, the poor,
the oppressed and disadvantaged, and works with them in the public schools.
His writing has been most influential in knowing real black lives,
their education, development and root problems.
He is author of the National Book Award
Death At An Early Age,
& Illiterate America
Free Schools
Savage Inequalities
Amazing Grace
Ordinary Resurrections
and other books worth reading
GWENDOLYN BROOKS
First African American to receive the Pulitzer Prize (for Poetry, 1950)
I corresponded with Gwendolyn Brooks when I was an undergraduate student
at Bensalem College, Fordham University,
and while in a Master's program at Goddard College.
She was poet laureate of Illinois.
--Uncle John
ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER
"We in this country, in this generation, are, by destiny rather than choice, the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of ´peace on earth, goodwill toward men´. This must be our goal. The righteousness of our cause must underlie our strength."
--President John F. Kennedy
excerpted from an undelivered speech,
Dallas, Texas, November 22,1963
Uncle John Reviews
Bob Dylan´s Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour
