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Jan. 29 - Feb. 11, 2021 45
American Life in Poetry: Column 826 BY TED KOOSER,
U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006
Arizonan Alberto Rios probably observed this shamel ash often, its year-round green leaves never changing. On this particular day, however, he recognizes a difference—a yellow leaf. In doing so he offers us a glimpse of how something small yet unexpected may stay with us, perhaps even become a secret pleasure. Editor’s Note: This column (40) is a reprint from the American Life in Poetry archive as we bid farewell to Ted Kooser, and work to finalize the new website and forthcoming columns curated by Kwame Dawes. A Yellow Leaf A yellow leaf in the branches Of a shamel ash In the front yard; I see it, a yellow leaf Among so many. Nothing distinguishes it, Nothing striking, striped, stripped, Strident, nothing More than its yellow On this day, Which is enough, which makes me Think of it later in the day, Remember it in conversation With a friend, Though I do not mention it— A yellow leaf on a shamel ash On a clear day In an Arizona winter, A January like so many. American Life in Poetry provides newspapers and online publications with a free weekly column featuring contemporary American poems. The sole mission of this project is to promote poetry: American Life in Poetry seeks to create a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. There are no costs for reprinting the columns; we do require that you register your publication here and that the text of the column be reproduced without alteration.
Corner Quote “We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith we trust. For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.” – Amanda Gorman excerpt from “The Hill We Climb”
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BEATS Country Rap BY GABRIELLE GASSER There’s a new genre on the block, and it is slowly but surely gaining popularity. Country rap, otherwise known as country hip-hop, is exactly what it sounds like: a combination of country and rap music. With origins in the 1980s, the genre has experienced a recent resurgence with multiple chart-topping hits. One recent entry into the genre, “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, was released in 2018 with a remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus in 2019. The song won various awards and topped charts worldwide. In 2020, “Be Like That” by Kane Brown, primarily a country artist, featuring Swae Lee and Khalid, became yet another example of the novel country rap classification. The trend seems to be bringing country themes and styles into the mainstream and it has thrust artists like Kane Brown onto center stage after moderately successful country releases.
