Is Common's Work Poetry?

Mark Noonan

That, to me, is the larger question. If you’re to have a poetry night at the White House, the big question is whether the poets are writing anything worthy of thought, of consideration. It looks as though Common (Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.) has been dissed a bit at the White House, but his invite is still causing all sorts of controversy. Not being someone who listens to a lot of rap (these days I tend to the sillier songs of the 60’s and 70’s, along with bit of Mozart…yes, it is a bit of musical vertigo), I decided to look up some of Common’s recent lyrics – this is from Universal Mind Control

Get-Get it

Get-Get it

Get-Get it

I am a Renegade,

I’ve never been afraid, Fresh and Im getting paid the future, future of this age.

From the Chi, so I talk this way. Twista hate at the Grand Marque, rock the fly (expletive deleted) like everyday till the top and im on my way. Let’s go, uh

This is that new (expletive deleted). keep them standin in line. That Universal Mind Control, now move your behind. You know you like it, it’s calling your name. (N-word), this is that new (expletive deleted) and it don’t feel the same. It’s that bang bigga-bang ba-bang ba-bang bang. Bang bigga-bang ba-bang ba-bang bang. Bom bigga-bom ba-bang ba-bang bigga-bigga bom bigga-bom ba-bang ba-bang bang.

One too many bangs, perhaps? Before we make a judgment, we should find something universally recognized as good poetry to compare it to. So, from Chesterton – Ballad of Suicide:

The gallows in my garden, people say,

Is new and neat and adequately tall;

I tie the noose on in a knowing way

As one that knots his necktie for a ball;

But just as all the neighbours on the wall

Are drawing a long breath to shout “Hurray!”

The strangest whim has seized me. . . After all

I think I will not hang myself to-day.

To-morrow is the time I get my pay

My uncle’s sword is hanging in the hall

I see a little cloud all pink and grey

Perhaps the rector’s mother will NOT call

I fancy that I heard from Mr. Gall

That mushrooms could be cooked another way

I never read the works of Juvenal

I think I will not hang myself to-day.

The world will have another washing-day;

The decadents decay; the pedants pall;

And H.G. Wells has found that children play,

And Bernard Shaw discovered that they squall;

Rationalists are growing rational

And through thick woods one finds a stream astray,

So secret that the very sky seems small

I think I will not hang myself to-day.

So, is Common’s work poetry? We report, you decide.