An excerpt of poet Ai Ogawa reading

Grants | NHPRC | Topics | Arts & Culture | Legacy Project Remote Work (2020-2021) | Special Collections | Poems, Poets, and Poetry | Types | Reading |
June 20, 1981
Mara Anne Tapp - Reporter, Ai Ogawa - Reader
Listen: Poet Ai Ogawa
0:00

An excerpt of American poet and educator Ai Ogawa reading from her work.

Transcript:

(00:00:00) Guadalajara Cemetery, you sort the ten paintings and lay your favorite and my lap then you stroke my bare feet as I leaned against a tombstone. It's time to cross the border and cut your throat with two knives your wife your son. I won't try to stop you a cow with a mouths at both ends choose hell going and coming. I never asked less you me these withered flowers. Why so many hearts tied in a knot given and taken away?

Transcripts

text | pdf |

SPEAKER 1: "Guadalajara Cemetery." You sort the tin paintings and lay your favorite in my lap, then you stroke my bare feet as I lean against a tombstone. It's time to cross the border and cut your throat with two knives-- your wife, your son. I won't try to stop you. A cow with a mouth at both ends chews hell going and coming. I never asked less. You, me, these withered flowers, so many hearts tied in a knot, given and taken away.

Send an inquiry regarding this content
Funders

Digitization made possible by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.

This Story Appears in the Following Collections

Views and opinions expressed in the content do not represent the opinions of APMG. APMG is not responsible for objectionable content and language represented on the site. Please use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report a piece of content. Thank you.

Transcriptions provided are machine generated, and while APMG makes the best effort for accuracy, mistakes will happen. Please excuse these errors and use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report an error. Thank you.

< path d="M23.5-64c0 0.1 0 0.1 0 0.2 -0.1 0.1-0.1 0.1-0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.1-0.1 0.3-0.1 0.4 -0.2 0.1 0 0.2 0 0.3 0 0 0 0.1 0 0.2 0 0.1 0 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.2 0 0.4-0.1 0.5-0.1 0.2 0 0.4 0 0.6-0.1 0.2-0.1 0.1-0.3 0.3-0.5 0.1-0.1 0.3 0 0.4-0.1 0.2-0.1 0.3-0.3 0.4-0.5 0-0.1 0-0.1 0-0.2 0-0.1 0.1-0.2 0.1-0.3 0-0.1-0.1-0.1-0.1-0.2 0-0.1 0-0.2 0-0.3 0-0.2 0-0.4-0.1-0.5 -0.4-0.7-1.2-0.9-2-0.8 -0.2 0-0.3 0.1-0.4 0.2 -0.2 0.1-0.1 0.2-0.3 0.2 -0.1 0-0.2 0.1-0.2 0.2C23.5-64 23.5-64.1 23.5-64 23.5-64 23.5-64 23.5-64"/>