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View Full Version : Going to see Dr. Maya Angelou tonight!



Captain Pike
04-26-2010, 09:14 AM
I live on a shoestring budget. My wife, "Little Miss Wonderful", asked if we could see this woman speak tonight in the capital city of our state, 100 or more miles away.
She's speaking at one of the state university's campuses, and I started to fume at not been able to get a discount at being an alumni.
When I haven't heard of a person, it can mean at least one of two things:


They are a, "nobody"
I am tragically uncultured


I begin, this morning, assuming the former of course. The cost of a ticket to see her "show" is about half of what it would've cost me to go see Korn and Limp Bizkit, back in the early 90s. I didn't even try to get a discount on those.
Sometimes, I almost can't stand myself! But, I'm trying to improve.

Dr. Angelou, a remarkable renaissance poet, may very well be the most fascinating, inspiring and interesting person I might get a chance to listen to in person.

She is an author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, performer, singer, and civil rights activist. She is best known for her autobiographical books: All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986), The Heart of a Woman (1981), Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas (1976), Gather Together in My Name (1974), and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), which was nominated for the National Book Award.

Her credits scroll off the screen on most any website I'd be interested in visiting: music, drama, literature, the arts not to mention inspirational speaking, WHICH I'VE GOT A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE TONIGHT!

I'm amazed. I constantly and repeatedly almost miss the bus of my own life!

Petrarch's Love
04-29-2010, 03:04 PM
How was the May Angelou event? She is indeed a major contemporary figure in the literary arts, and I enjoy her work. Hope you enjoyed the lecture or reading.

Seasider
04-29-2010, 03:23 PM
I went to see her as part of The Brighton Festival (Brighton England) a couple of years ago. She is, or was then a most imposing figure...six foot tall I guess in high heels and a commanding presence. I was going to say she recited some of her poems...but that would be understating it...she performed them. Most of the audience seemed very familiar with her work...they started applauding as she began the poem rather than wait to the end. Her poems were incantatory...they reminded me of a similar effect achieved by Dylan Thomas reciting his work...though his didn't have the humour and wit running through them as hers did. I don't know if she is a good poet... and this despite being a teacher of English Literature all my working life...but she sure is a big and life- enhancing personality and i would go again and see her for that. Hope you enjoyed it.

Virgil
04-29-2010, 06:50 PM
Tell us about it Capt. When I was in college I used top love it they got a poet to read. It was such an event. I haven't been to a reading since undergrad days, which is oh almost thirty years now. Please do tell. :)