One of the very moving recent events in my life was the "March for Our Lives" in Washington a couple of weeks ago. Passionate AND thoughtful speeches by young people that will, I hope, lead to moral and legislative action. One of the stars whose performance complemented those of the young speakers is Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the current and popular musical "Hamilton"; seeing Miranda at the March reminded me of a poem of protest sent to me by Australian poet Erica Jolly a few months ago. Jolly's poem draws from an essay by Matthew Peppe in the Special Issue of Lapham's Quarterly about Alexander Hamilton and contrasts the character of the theatrical Hamilton with the behavior of the character who inspired him. (This link to the blog "John's Space" offers additional background information.) Thank you, Erica, for this moving use of numbers!
Daddy Yankee:
The Irony of ‘Hamilton’
Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s
Advocacy for Puerto Rico
An essay by Matthew Peppe found in the Special Issue
about Alexander Hamilton in Lapham’s Quarterly.
I draw in my breath in disbelief.
How does one take in all those numbers?
How is it possible for an island of this size
to have a debt of seventy six billion dollars?
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