Queen Latifah Recites The Maya Angelou Poem ‘We Had Him’
Altho I had planned on posting no Michael Jackson stories today (in the hopes that I could move on from his death after attending his memorial service at the Staples Center here in Los Angeles, CA earlier this week), I ended up posting the coverphoto of the new issue of Q magazine (which, it seems, is the last magazine photoshoot that MJ did before his death) earlier today because I felt it was worth sharing. But, since I already posted one MJ story, I figured it’d be appropriate to post another more positive blogpost. A few Pink readers asked me for the text of the Maya Angelou poem that Queen Latifah read aloud at the Michael Jackson Memorial Service so I will pass that along now, in full, here:
We Had Him
Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.
Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.
In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.
Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.
He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.
He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.
We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.
And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.
Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana’s Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world.
What a beautiful, touching and very fitting tribute. I do love this poem, as I love all of Dr. Angelou’s poetry. After the jump, watch video of Queen Latifah reading the last portion of this poem on stage at the Staples Center during the Michael Jackson Memorial Service earlier this week …
Just beautiful.
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Tags: 'We Had Him', Maya Angelou, Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah
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July 9th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Don’t apologize for posting this Michael Jackson story. I WANT to read more stories about him. For his fans, its part of the grieving process. I’m sure hes still on everyone’s mind.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
what a beautiful peom. maya angelou has an immeasurable gift
July 9th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I second Tatiana’s sentiment. People who didn’t love him can learn to skip over these posts, if they haven’t yet. Thanks, Trent.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Trent, people are going to come on here and criticize you for posting about michael still but he had so many fans that want to know this type of information and cannot find it anywhere else are going to be pleased you are doing this. THAT’S who you do it for, you cannot please everyone. Don’t explain yourself to haters, they can read a damn headline and skip over the posts to see something else. Keep doing what you are doing and don’t let a few whiners stop you. thanks for all that you do hun.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I agree wholeheartedly… I was not so much a fan in the later years. Such a loss, he had so much more life to live with his children and in sharing his talent. Namaste, Trent and thanks.
July 9th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Beautiful, beautiful poem. She is to poetry what Michael Jackson was/is to music.
This is how he lives on, within each and everyone of us. I don’t care what the negative peple have to say. I’ve been blaring his music since he passed. Dancing and singing along; doing what, I believe, he would want us to do. I choose to remember how he lived not how he died. I will celebrate him!
July 9th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I cannot stand to hear another piece of Michael Jackson news coverage. I do not care what it is about.
There is a horrifying underlying reality to this grotesque media coverage on Michael Jackson. This is a signifying moment in our cultural decline. The world is viewing us as having lost our grip over this incident. I cannot express enough how dangerous this obsession has become and the volume of what it speaks for America. I really hope some people can see my vantage point
July 9th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
@anna — “This is a signifying moment in our cultural decline. The world is viewing us as having lost our grip over this incident. I cannot express enough how dangerous this obsession has become and the volume of what it speaks for America.” Hyperbole, thy name is Anna. I’m sorry but I really think you are over-exaggerating just a smidge.
July 9th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
@Shannon — “[Maya Angelou} is to poetry what Michael Jackson was/is to music.” I think that is an excellent analogy. Well said.
July 9th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
@dana j — you are right, i learned that haters will hate no matter what years ago. it doesn’t matter what i write about, someone’s gonna complain bitterly. it comes with the territory. i feel bad for their sad negative lives … but i just keep on keepin’ on ;) you’re a doll and thank you!! xo
July 9th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
@anna-
The WORLD is viewing us as having lost our grip? Have you noticed just how many tributes have been going on all AROUND THE WORLD? How many fans in other countries have been writing about him and posting stories and videos? Sorry to break it to you, but we really aren’t that special and or unique. Your vantage point sounds like a whole lotta crazy- I think it says more about you than it does everyone who has been paying their respects and rediscovering their love for his music. When people feel appreciation, when they feel love and acknowledge loss- those are all GOOD things. I think it’s a signifying moment in our culture because people are acknowledging their feelings about it- I think it’s good that people HAVE feelings about things other than a lot of what we tend to get preoccupied with from day to day. it’s rather humbling in various ways, if you aren’t too busy being bitterly reactive. You don’t even need to be a fan to look at people and think, wow- it’s pretty amazing that so many of us can be moved to tears over a single man and his music. I would think it was beautiful even if I wasn’t a fan. I’m sure when Madonna dies, the same thing will happen, and I’ll be respectful of her fans even though I’m not one.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
@anna- The WORLD is viewing us have having lost our grip? Are you the new spokesperson for “the world”? Apparently, you haven’t noticed just how many tributes have been taking place *all over the world*- how many fans from other countries have been sharing stories and posting videos. We are not that special or unique, and your vantage point sounds like a whole lotta crazy. It probably says more about you than it does America, because these people you are complaining about are feeling renewed appreciation, love and loss- those are beautiful human emotions, and I think it’s a signifying moment in our culture because so many of us have been *surprisingly* affected by his death. You don’t need to be a fan to look around and think “wow- it’s rather beautiful and amazing that so many people are moved by this one person”. I would appreciate that even if I wasn’t a fan. I’m sure when Madonna dies, the same thing will happen, and I’ll totally enjoy watching people celebrate her, despite the fact that I’m not a fan.
July 9th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
sorry for double posting- it looked like mine was erased ;)
July 9th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
enought of MJ what happened to soldiers that died for the country you live 2 soldiers that live on the base i live on died where is the news on that he had is day for the funeral enough a news crew that were supposed to cover mt rainier climb by disabled veterans go cut cause they had to cover mj funeral my god enough already he was a singer people nothing more
July 9th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
@becka34 — what?
July 10th, 2009 at 12:21 am
If there was ANY doubt that Trent is a true MJ fan, I think it is put to rest today. :D
July 10th, 2009 at 7:14 am
@J — I’m not a big, big fan but I am a fan of much of his music and his trailblazing impact on our culture, I am deffo a Dr. Maya Angelou fan.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Enough MJ. It’s getting overly depressing with this carrying on and continuous reporting on every last detail. I realize the world has lost a great artist, and I am very saddened by it as well, but there is a point where you have to start moving on, as far as media coverage goes. It’s been almost 3 weeks of non-stop in your face coverage, no matter whether it be online or on the network news. I realize happenings like the death of MJ are the bread and butter of gossip and media sites, but there must be some other news out there people!
July 10th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Hey Trent, just wanted to say that I’m soooo glad you do this blog, I love reading your stuff. You are funny, positive, entertaining and a great writer. Please don’t let these grumpy gusses bring you down!!!!! Post whatever YOU think is interesting, and the folks who love you and your site will just read the parts that interest us — but will NEVER tear you down for the rest. Haters be dam*ed!
July 10th, 2009 at 9:35 am
There have been lots of tributes around the world and there continue to be. I won’t give Trent grief about reporting on MJ here because this is an entertainment blog and this is entertainment news. However, I had to take CNN off my toolbar because cnn.com simply can’t seem to cover anything but this. I check CNN several times a day and they have been regurgitating old news just to keep MJ as their main headline on the site. I actually did email them about this to let them know how I felt, not that I think anyone there cares. lol. I have had to go to bbc.com to get international news and even American news for the last week. BBC has covered this but have not made it their number one story except in the days immediately after the death and on the day of the funeral. I maintain it has been disgusting how mainstream media, who thoroughly enjoyed every pedophilia accusation and courtcase, has crammed this down our throats to the exclusion of other news. It is incredibly hypocritical. To be clear, I don’t have a problem with them continuing to cover this as new developments happen, but it has really felt over the last few days that they are working their damnedest to make the news, and not report it. I am not sure why anyone would come down hard on Trent for reporting on this but I do expect mainstream media to start to focus on something else.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:50 am
I hope no one is insinuating that just because someone has a different opinion on something they are automatically a “hater”…or have a “sad negative life”. Not everyone takes it to extremes…I hope we can see the difference.
July 10th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
This is truly beautiful..
Thank you Trent!
July 10th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
@J — um … whut?