Poetry has been at the heart of many of the ups and downs of the Occupy protests these past few weeks. In New York, organizers garnered national attention and praise for their literary accomplishments, which include establishing a library in the Northwest corner of Zuccotti Park and hosting a weekly poetry reading. The Huffington Post's Feliz Molina wrote last week about the impressive poetry anthology the group has compiled, which includes poems by Adrienne Rich, Michael McClure and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The anthology -- true to the movement's principles -- is open to all.
But in Oklahoma City last week, poetry was front and center for a far more somber reason. Protesters there mourned the death of a young man whom they knew simply as "The Poet," who died in a tent on Monday (the cause of his death has not been released).
The Oklahoman has identified "The Poet" as 18-year-old Louis Cameron Rodriguez, who left home after a disagreement with his parents, and had since travelled the country performing his poetry. When he arrived at the Occupy OKC event, he was homeless, and the group gave him food, clothing and shelter.
The details of just how tough "The Poet" had it since leaving home are clear in his poetry. Here's a transcript of a poem he performed on at the Occupy OKC rally. You can watch the video of it here.
You can talk about the pain and the struggle
You can discuss hard times or life in a nutshell
Or (a hunger) because Momma took the welfare (and bailed?)
Then you don't know how it is.
They are fighting addiction while providing for four kids
The definition of a true man,
He never let the world get in the way of him being a dad
So tell me where have you been?
I'll tell you right now,
Until you crawl under that bridge and huddle up against the wall
Take off them busted-ass shoes, feet riding the railroad
Then you don't know what I been through or where I've been
Knowing that tomorrow I'll be in the same place again
Dry my tears in the wind
You say you feel my pain
But you don't even know what pain is.
Doom! Magazine's blog has collected a few quotes remembering "The Poet." One man remembered that he "gave me more hugs in the space of a little over a week than many people get in a lifetime." In a statement, Occupy OKC leaders said that he was known for his "joyful exuberance at life, his skillful talent as a street poet, and a wonderful spirit of giving and unselfish love that was an inspiration to everyone he met in our community." In an interview you can watch here, the young man's exuberance and spirit are clear.
The Occupy OKC group has set up an area of flowers and signs remembering "The Poet" in an area of the park they now call "Poet's Park." The group was scheduled to hold a memorial service on Saturday in downtown Oklahoma City.
I would say Occupy OKC was EXACTLY the place he needed to be - a place where people did not judge him, accepted him, fed him, clothed him, sheltered him, treated him with love and respect when few in his life had and most in our society wouldn't.
Occupy OKC has already accomplished many cool things and we are very focused on our goal to change the system so that Government and politicians listen and are responsive to ordinary citizens, instead of just those wealthy persons, big banks & big corporations with the most money. The Poet is not a distraction, he is an inspiration, and rightfully so.
You apparently know nothing about this movement or the sweet boy I held in my arms waiting for OCPD to arrive on October 31st, or you would never have posted this comment. You apparently did not stay up at night writing poetry with him and eating cereal while he told you about the dreams he had for his life and the lives of his younger sisters. I wonder did you ever watch him haul trash through busy downtown when no one else would get up and help clean up? Did you sit down and plan out the format of the poetry book he wanted you to help him publish? Did you ever watch him sleep in a hammock outside your tent and thank God for bringing him to your door so to speak? Also, I ask, did you take him to get his ID so he could get a job and go to school, while contemplating moving into your house to get on his feet? I did not think so.
This article also does a very nice job of explaining who "The Poet" (Louis Cameron Rodriguez) was & why his memory is important ... http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/node/879
This is video of The Poet's last performance at the Occupy OKC Candlelight vigil to thank & honor Veterans & first responders - the last night of his young life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBrEgGBMGXk
Thank you.
Hey, you know, I;m sorry a young man died. But when you push him in our faces and try to make him some kinda teen idol... no. he was a runaway kid who crashed with some questionable people and didn't wake up.
Whatever problems Louis may have had - the bottom line is that he was a beautiful person - very loving and inspiring. He tested out with an IQ of 160+/genius and was a very talented Poet.
Did his family or society fail him, maybe - but I do know personally that he was putting his life back together & that Occupy OKC was helping him do that - getting his paperwork together to enter the Peace Corps, providing him food & shelter & friendship & a purpose. And we even bought him several outfits of new clothing. We conducted a memorial service for him & even have paid for his family to come to OKC to attend & take care of necessary arrangements.
So Shakesome, when you sitting at your computer, not knowing Louis or anyone at Occupy OKC, or the facts, just want to complain - I'd say that you and those like you are actually are the bigger problem in our society than this young man & the spirit of giving, unity, and love that he actually inspired to those that actually knew him.
Society didnt fail him. wake up and take responsibility for your own actions. he did what he did and it killed him. thats what happens when you pop pills for fun. now step up and quit making excuses. this "movement" is more about blaming someone else for your lot in life rather than having the guts to change it. im tired of seeing the sign "profits and poverty are up" . what do you want them to do with the money, give it to you? get out and earn it. how about the companies give it to the shareholders???? but no them it wouldnt go to subsidize any government handouts.
Fear and Hope of the Last US Elections
Claiming victory for the silent dead and wounded so quiet, he
also made an eloquent proclamation very strongly to fi ght, that even sounded
almost right. “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from America”. With fear and hope for morrow, enraptured audience
wept in joy and sorrow.
Th ere sounded a bell, that none could tell; whether it summoned to heaven
or to hell. As the witch vanished that ominous day, fog and fi lth began to drift
away. On a barren heath spring came with lavender hue and life was born anew.
Streams began to fl ow and birds came to stay. Foul or fair not aware, a couple
began to sing, and the band began to play.
When the birds bring the sun and the bees bring the stars;
We don’t care if the world goes left or right.
We fl y with the crows or we cry with the owls;
We don’t care if it’s day or night.
When meadows have berries and streams that fl ow;
We don’t care if we feed or fi ght.
When mum ends her rule and kids go to school;
We don’t care if they read or write.
But when owls shred our nest we want it back to rest;
We don’t care if it’s black or white. (Eclipse of Destinies, Trafford, Indiana, pp.342-343).