Jake joined the Academy of American Poets for The 11th Annual Poetry & the Creative Mind, tonight at Lincoln Center.
The event had artists and public figures reading their favorite poems. Jake was a last minute addition to the line up that included Jan Abumrad, Jake's buddy Mario Batali, Dick Cavett, Patricia Clarkson, Tyne Daly, Glen Hansard, National Student Poet Claire Lee, Stew, Rose Styron, Amber Tamblyn, Calvin Trillin, and Kathleen Turner.
Did Jake read a favorite poems from childhood? Or one he grew to love as an adult? Speaking of love, perhaps a sonnet? Something by Neruda?
A poem for someone he loves? Or a poem shared to him by someone who loves him? A poem passed down and one he continues to pass on?
Or did he mix it up with a limerick about a man from Nantucket? Something Seussical or perhaps Silversteinish? An ode to Kale?
Was it something deep and soulful? Or a rhythmic rhyme? Could he have picked a poem from his Pops?
The event had artists and public figures reading their favorite poems. Jake was a last minute addition to the line up that included Jan Abumrad, Jake's buddy Mario Batali, Dick Cavett, Patricia Clarkson, Tyne Daly, Glen Hansard, National Student Poet Claire Lee, Stew, Rose Styron, Amber Tamblyn, Calvin Trillin, and Kathleen Turner.
Did Jake read a favorite poems from childhood? Or one he grew to love as an adult? Speaking of love, perhaps a sonnet? Something by Neruda?
A poem for someone he loves? Or a poem shared to him by someone who loves him? A poem passed down and one he continues to pass on?
Or did he mix it up with a limerick about a man from Nantucket? Something Seussical or perhaps Silversteinish? An ode to Kale?
Was it something deep and soulful? Or a rhythmic rhyme? Could he have picked a poem from his Pops?
Sharing poetry is sharing one's self. That place where the soul is touched. What will Jake's poem reveal about him.
The events celebrates National Poetry Month, established by the Academy in 1996 and now is the largest literary celebration in the world. Proceeds from tonight allow the Academy to donate free classroom materials to thousands of schools and libraries across the country.
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this:
where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
Pablo Neruda
Jake read Frank O'Hara's Ave Maria
ReplyDeleteAVE MARIA
Mothers of America
let your kids go to the movies!
get them out of the house so they won't know what you're up to
it's true that fresh air is good for the body
but what about the soul
that grows in darkness, embossed by silvery images
and when you grow old as grow old you must
they won't hate you
they won't criticize you they won't know
they'll be in some glamorous country
they first saw on a Saturday afternoon or playing hookey
they may even be grateful to you
for their first sexual experience
which only cost you a quarter
and didn't upset the peaceful home
they will know where candy bars come from
and gratuitous bags of popcorn
as gratuitous as leaving the movie before it's over
with a pleasant stranger whose apartment is in the Heaven on Earth Bldg
near the Williamsburg Bridge
oh mothers you will have made the little tykes
so happy because if nobody does pick them up in the movies
they won't know the difference
and if somebody does it'll be sheer gravy
and they'll have been truly entertained either way
instead of hanging around the yard
or up in their room
hating you
prematurely since you won't have done anything horribly mean yet
except keeping them from the darker joys
it's unforgivable the latter
so don't blame me if you won't take this advice
and the family breaks up
and your children grow old and blind in front of a TV set
seeing
movies you wouldn't let them see when they were young
[1960]
Jake also read Mary Oilver's "wild geese"
ReplyDeleteBut the poems to read, were proposed by the organizers of the event, jake as the others had few options to choose from.
Thanks Dead Poets Society.
ReplyDeleteI like that he read "wild geese" as well.
I just heard on the radio that Will Smith admitted that he is in an open relationship.
ReplyDeleteJake was just interviewed on ET. They said he has no kids of his own but he said he could relate to the plot in the movie Prisoners because of his neices and the other kids in his life.
ReplyDeleteWow kind of brave from Will Smith
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteJessica Biel Central Jessica Biel Central @jessicabielus 52m
First Photos of Jesse as Alice Eckle in David O’Russell’s “Nailed” http://jessica-biel.com/first-photos-of-jesse-as-alice-eckle-in-david-orussells-nailed/ … #JessicaBiel #JamesMarsden #JakeGyllenhaal