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Monday, June 26, 2017

Southern Trees Bear Strange Fruit

I don't know why this poem/song is so much on my mind these days, but I can't get it out of my mind. I first learned about this incredibly haunting poem/song by Abel Meeropol on a podcast. It's making me absolutely crazy that I can't remember what podcast. My father used to admire the fact that I could remember anything about what I had read or heard, but those days are gone. I don't know what happened, but I can't remember anything anymore. I kind of feel that 42 is a little young to be this forgetful, but maybe it's all the migraine drugs. If I remember the podcast, I'll come back and link it. It was stellar.

In any case, this NPR piece is fascinating about the life of Abel Meeropol, one-time Communist teacher in New York in the 1940s. I won't retell the article here, but I would encourage you to read it, because the man led an interesting life. Oh, and if you want to know why that song (with his lyrics) haunts me, just listen to Billie Holiday sing it:


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