In lieu of trying to belong to any number of societies: Chesterton, Sherlock Holmes, the Inklings, and so on: I propose and establish one of my own. Don your intelligence cap at the door; dust off your logic and imagination; did you bring your inspiration and encouragement? We are shapers, my friends; lit lamps; light-bringers. Bring quotes; poetry should be uplifting and thoughtful, or witty and clever, (or both). Humor is encouraged; laughter is invited back. Pull up a chair. Anyone for tea?

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Hamilton


I know, I know, I'm at least six months late onto the bandwagon--condition normal in case you were wondering--but hey. 
Okay, cut me some slack. For the longest time it was just this vague thing that I would hear mentioned here and there. I never have been one to jump on the newest trend. The internet may be blowing up, but then twilight was a fad too. And pokemon is in. (Not equating the two, just saying: two things that'll never be my thing.)
Anyway, it took the longest time before I even knew what it was. And after that, much longer before I figured out what I could do about it. I mean, it's a musical, right? But I'm not going to broadway, so now what? All I saw was vague, hyperbolic praise all over social media. 
Aha! Complete soundtrack. (Thank you Spotify). I literally googled: what I need to know about Hamilton.  (This is why I need/plan to rub elbows with more people who will say, seriously listen to this!)
I mean really. I'm the person who goes around quoting the Declaration of Independence (and scribbling it in morse code when I'm bored), and went around for months with Paul Johnson's History of the American People, reading bits whenever I got to it. But in this day and age it's hard to keep on a history kick on your own. 
Enter rap. 
Are you kidding me? Crazy musicality, tight meter, rhyme, poetry, with History? You know that's right. It makes me want to cry, sing, fight, and study all at once. Loving Right Hand Man, but haven't listened long enough to have a legitimate favorite. *Update* Right Hand Man? Officially my favorite.
At any rate, I had to add my nod.


Hamilton is hot right now, but that we knew
It's like an epidemic of some kind of flu
It's spreadin over everything, but what even is it?
Shoulda looked, instead I wait for enlightenment to visit
It's a musical you say, well that's cool and all
With history, they're telling me, but still I stall
About Alexander Hamilton? I kinda guessed
But it's totally amazing! the collusion stressed
Still I'm hesitant to jump on just because it's a fad
Will I learn something new? Will it make me glad?
You can laugh now, I'm laughing with you too. I get it
It's a masterpiece of artistic license. Legit.
It's reminding us this history is in our make up
But sometimes we need a slick-beat-tune to wake up
Revealing raw connection, the reality of then and now
The heartbeat of the who, and the enterprising how.
If you haven't tried it out, here's a cordial invitation.
The history will sneak in on a musical invasion
Just listen to the poetry, the meter is tight
Okay so i'm late, it doesn't mean I'm not right.

3 comments:

Kat said...

Sweet verse! You rock. Maybe I need introduced?!

Olivia said...

Definitely! Not small-child friendly I'm afraid, but worth the listen when you get the chance. 😉

Auntie Mer said...

You're a fan! Not surprised in the least. We listen to it non stop. (Pun intended.) It is sheer genius. How I would love to sit and discuss it in all its glory with you and a big ol' cuppa!