This is 'Common' in Poetry?

by Sonja Harris on May 12, 2011 at 3:22 PM

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost
I hold up a peace sign but I carry a gun
- Common

I don’t believe that I have to point out the very obvious as to what is troubling about the rapper, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, commonly know as ‘COMMON’ being invited to the White House to read his ‘poetry’. But to the president and first lady this rather obvious faux pas is above their pay grade. The two most influential people in America invited this Chicago thug to their lair, commonly know as the White House. Have they no shame? They have no class. Poetry should be inspiring and at times intellectual, remember how we studied the meaning of some of the lyrics in school? There is not much to ‘study’ in ‘Common’s verses. “Why are you messing with Saddam, burn a Bush… no weapons of destruction…how can we follow leader when is a corrupt one… I hold up a peace sign but I carry a gun”. Is he even speaking English?

It is amazing to me how the Liberals are comparing the Pope to this ‘Common’ that encourages the vilest of actions upon our society. It is, the Liberals say, artistic creativity and should be part of the White House poetry celebration. First Lady Laura Bush cancelled her poetry event when she tried to host one because the Liberals gave her such a difficult time. Michelle held her poetry reading regardless of the conservative outcry. Liberals win again in the Arts. After all, ‘Common’ is mainstream, just one of us.

I added a poem by Robert Frost just for a refreshing refresher.

The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost