Maya Angelou's Elegy For Michael Jackson
Among the many notable moments at Michael Jackson's funeral was Queen Latifah's reading of the Maya Angelou poem "We Had Him." The popular poetess wrote the poem specifically for the occasion (no easy task) and just that morning asked Latifah to perform it, which she did with spirit and elegance.
"We Had Him" is typical of Angelou's work: inspirational and accessible, confident, and deriving power from its rhythms and repetition. You probably know her popular poem "Phenomenal Woman," and might remember another occasional poem she wrote, "On the Pulse of the Morning," which she read at Bill Clinton's first inauguration.
Here's a transcript of "We Had Him" (I took a best guess at the line breaks--Angelou may have intended them to fall elsewhere):
Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing,
now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips
like a puff of summer wind.
Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace.
Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.
In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time.
No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.
Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember
that he was a gift to us and we did have him.
He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love,
and survived and did more than that.
He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style.
We had him whether we know who he was or did not know,
he was ours and we were his.
We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.
And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing.
He gave us all he had been given.
Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world.
The audience responded well to the poem. What do you think?
I find more poignancy in this quote from her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song."
Michael didn't seem to have a lot of answers, but for all of his faults, he sang a powerful song.
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So people are complaining because she wrote a personal poem for Michael jackson. Poems are read everyday at funerals so what makes this any different? There has been countless funerals/memorials of celebrities and poems were read! How many celebrities died during war, recession, famine etc...yet some people have a problem with this? Don't blame Michael Jackson for tihs because the American government barley even takes care of our troops when they return from war!
What do people get out of writing negative comments about someone they never even met before?
They are projecting their misery and self-loathing onto the world. They are very unhappy people.
I agree.
I think a lot of people are just tired of the overload of Michael Jackson stories--I read this one because I love Maya Angelou, who is a wonder. People need to remember that she's done many other poems for public occasion - including the inauguration of Bill Clinton. And why on earth should she NOT write a poem for Michael Jackson?
Okay agree it has been way too much coverage of Michael Jackson which most of it is garbage about his personal life. But that is not Michael Jacksons, nor the Jackson family fault. It is the fault of the media who loves sensationalism. So why bash a dead man for it? If you do not like it then perhaps people should not read the article because they would not like if someone did that to a dead loved one and yes many people loved MJ>
i wish everyone would take their negativity else where.
this was a beautiful poem by an outstanding world renowned poet.
this poem celebrated all the positives to michael jackson's life and the way his family, friends, and fans felt about him.
if you want to believe all the garbage that was spewed by the media and those who succeeded in bringing michael down then this poem and a positive person like maya angelou is definitely not for you.
I WANT to like this poem far more than I do. Sorry. I expect more from her.
Very good poem. Most people have no clue about poetry.
Poetry is whatever speaks to you. A poetry degree or published work of your own isn't required to have a clue. Please don't try to marginalize others if their tastes differ from yours.
And, for the record, I have a poetry degree and have published my work in literary magazines. I've also won writing awards.
You don't have to like the poem more than you do. Just let it be how it is..good or bad.
For me, this poem was the best moment in the celebration of his life.
I think it is rather nice. I think it speaks to the fact that despite whether you embraced him or not, were actually witnessed the life of someone unique. We have a tendency to take things for granted.
Maya Angelou, how beautiful!
Your words and your personal beauty. We have you too.
I read her work, I was awed when during Bill Clinton's Inauguration. but this has to do down in history as the elegy that spoke for so many thank you Maya and yes we are the world.
p.s I am in Rwanda
Just a quick question - during this week or two week period in which the nation has been mourning Michael Jackson, how many soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan? Who wrote a poem for them? Have the streets filled up with mourners for those who died in service to this country? And that's just the soldiers, what about the average citizens who have died unnoticed by you - are their lives worth less?
Jackson was a great PERFORMER, but let's get a little perspective here.
"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."
H. L. Mencken
Michael was much more than a great performer.
He spoke across generations; we were the men and women in his mirror; he tore down false accusations, exposing them for their greed; he triumphed against great adversity, and he bared his soul.
Reflecting on Michael Jackson doesn't for one minute detract from the brave men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. The world owes them a debt of gratitude beyond measure.
Who wrote a poem for them? Perhaps it could be you.
Okay, so what did YOU do for those soldiers who died this week? How did YOU commemorate their de*ths? THAT's where it starts, and that is what is important -- how you deal with life's inequities.
I agree that there has been a lot of coverage; and that Michael Jackson is being exploited in his death just as he was during his life. But I want to ask a question:
Why are there so many cries of "enough already!" about the positive coverage of Michael Jackson, yet interminably perverse cracks are made over and over again about OJ to this day? I'm not commenting on the latter's innocence or guilt. I'm just noting that the same folks who have become weary of hearing positive things about MJ, never seem to tire of the negative insults about OJ.
Has it occurred to anyone that perhaps folks are tired of hearing stuff like that, too?
I am perfectly ok with hearing about MJ all day long just like everyone else. You don't have to listen to anything at all if you don't want to. No one is making you turn on the TV.
Second, Matt7, have you ever heard of the phrase: a person is INNOCENT until proven guilty.
MJ was amazing. Let people be happy. If they want to cry and talk about him 24/7, let it be....
Because everyone knew that OJ was really guilty and got away with it and to watch him play golf and have a fantastic life while the Goldman's lost their son and the Brown's their daughter and had to watch him smirk all these years. He got away with eight previous domestic violence calls because he was such a celebrity. I remember watching the staging of his house after the murders and his lawyers having all the photos of rich and famous white people removed from his walls and replaced with photos that made him look more like them -- like they could ever be a fabulously wealthy star athlete. Everything was staged and it made everyone who knew sick. He lucked out because of Mark Furman and also on the timing of it because of the 1992 LA race riots -- there was a lot of anger simmering against the police and the law in any form.
The DNA evidence alone should have been enough to convict him O.J.'s blood was at the murder scene, the odds of it being anyone but OJ were 1 in 170 million. The evidence was overwhelming and it was the longest jury trial in California history yet the verdict was back in about 4 hours. Most of us were happy when he walked into that Vegas hotel room with a gun with robbery on his mind.
You're the one that needs perspective here.
I agree thoroughly !!
I would love to witness a memorial when yet another coffin arrives state side from Iraq or Afghanistan !!
I also see our own American citizenry having to live in tents since losing their homes and jobs, who will weep for them ???
Who will have a memorial for the elderly who are ill without any means of care, and working poor, children of this great nation without any medical help or food !!
How about two more weeks of broadcast for these hero's !!!!
It is not MJs fault this is happening. Blame our American media who loves sensationalism and drama.
You can do it whenever you like; however, your comments about the soldiers are only important to you when you have an axe to grind!
Why haven't you asked HP bloggers before to stop commenting about FLOTUS dress or some other issues of day like Sarah Palin's fishing boot!
Go further if you don't want to participate in the conversation!
Worst 'poet' in the history of the Western World. Nice lady....ex
lol, says YOU, but many disagree
and many agree as well.
Most people who read poetry agree and have always agreed. Even when she read at Clinton's inaugural, there were loud complaints that he chose a bad poet for racial reasons.
She writes to sell books to people who rarely read. She will disappear as people become more educated and learn to read good poetry.
i'm afraid you're right about her being a bad poet-worst in the western world may be a stretch. i mean, you've probably never read anything i wrote.
just sayin'
LOL! Me too!
That's why I don't share my poetry with anybody.
Well, if that poem I have just read is one of the worst from the worst poet, the best must be beyond this earth.
How could one not be moved by her poem to Michael Jackson: the content, the words, the juxtaposition of thoughts, the rhythm, the feeling. Isn't that what poetry is all about?
And I suppose you are an expert in poetry....
No, Daffy Duck is the worst poet. I know who you are, DuckofDeath.
Dr. Angelou's poem was beautiful and her words so very true.
". . . We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world."
I know - Maya Angelou is made of pure gold and nobody can say a bad thing about her - but this 'poem' is poetic cheez wiz.
Beautifully written, warmly read. Thank you to both Maya Angelou and Dana Owens.
So many bitter, cynical people posting here. Glad to NOT know ya.
Yep, sugar pie, I often think the *same* thing when reading comments on websites. So many spiteful, miserable people out there!
oh please....
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