http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/raziaiqbal/2009/01/does_poetry_have_a_place_in_po.html en-gb 30 Sat 19 Dec 2009 12:11:18 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/raziaiqbal/2009/01/does_poetry_have_a_place_in_po.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/raziaiqbal/2009/01/does_poetry_have_a_place_in_po.html?page=10#comment1 I couldn't quite make out the special relevance of Elizabeth Alexander's poem on the day - but then I also enjoyed Bruce Springsteen's 'The Rising' without being able to understand why he picked *that* song.I suspect the real message of having a poet involved was different.President Obama is reminding us that it is OK to be an American President, but still read poetry. Since taking office he has further reminded us that American Presidents are not obliged to imprison foreigners illegally, authorise torture, or use US third-world aid as a vehicle for exporting Religious Right agendas.President Obama is about choice and freedom - even the freedom to read poetry if one want to. Sun 25 Jan 2009 22:07:56 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/raziaiqbal/2009/01/does_poetry_have_a_place_in_po.html?page=0#comment0 The best political speeches have a tinge of poetry about them: 'Ask not what your country can do for you..' 'I have a dream...' 'We shall fight them on the beaches...' Mon 19 Jan 2009 21:15:39 GMT+1