The Day I Saw Barack Obama Reading Derek Walcott's Collected Poems

by Yusef Komunyakaa

Was he looking for St. Lucia's light
to touch his face those first days 
in the official November snow & sleet 
falling on the granite pose of Lincoln?
 
If he were searching for property lines
drawn in the blood, or for a hint
of resolve crisscrossing a border,
maybe he'd find clues in the taste of breadfruit.
 
I could see him stopped there squinting
in crooked light, the haze of Wall Street
touching clouds of double consciousness,
an eye etched into a sign borrowed from Egypt.

read the rest her at Poets.org 

Or watch this slideshow in Poem Flow at Poets.org.

Whatever your politics, it is fascinating to think of the President of the United States reading poetry. It could be any president; it's just the thought of wondering how it effects him, how he hears it.

Friday Poetry is hosted at Paper Tigers. Enjoy!!