Hanif Abdurraqib - Ode to Prince

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Hanif Abdurraqib, performing at Camp Bar in Saint Paul, MN.
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Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.
We seek to showcase the power and diversity of voices in our community. By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.

[@savini7727]

I feel so privileged to have heard something this beautiful.

[@skweekyshoos]

How can someone be this intelligent?? Just beautiful. Beautiful.

[@zachhannah8927]

Hanif could not possibly do this wrong. Columbus is so proud.

[@michaelschwartz4718]

Gave me chills 👍🏻

[@huntermeek7450]

Wow. This is just absolutely brilliant. This is freakin' beautiful.

[@representationmetaphorique]

hanif is always a wordsmith

[@BernardFerguson]

Thumbs up 1,000 times for this.

[@hellynnwheels6819]

How can I make everyone on earth listen to this?

[@saltykiwi8860]

never stopped coming back to this since i watched it 7 years ago ❤

[@lesliecorners6152]

Theres always a place where we are never dead 💕

[@JezdamayelCaster]

This was just so beautiful.

[@ApathetikDarko]

💜 Beautiful...

[@dialejano]

Absolutely amazing.

[@rochellelilieth3206]

ahhhh, so good, just soooo good

[@FushiginoKuni4]

Gorgeous.

[@onthestreetw_maya]

This is beautiful 💕

[@elizahhoward3923]

Great freaking poem

[@jamirx9]

wow wow wow wow wow

[@lostgirl17870]

👍👏

[@BreakSkateSoccer]

ok is anyone a sweetheart enough to tell me the meaning????i dont get it and i feel like im missing on something great pls

[@BronzeRivet]

Listen to the poem?

[@CrownedWithLaurels]

It's poetry hon, hear your own meaning in it. Or don't and just enjoy. Another person can't interpret it for you.

[@PLGiants]

So as the title says, it's an ode to the musician Prince. The poet praises him, then talks about specific memories that connect to Prince's music in his mind (the gum under the table), how that connects past and present, his personal life and larger cultural meaning, etc. Listen again and just let each line kind of sink in. And totally ask questions about what a specific line means to other folks if you're wanting to understand more! As someone else said, you can definitely hear your own meaning, but I totally understand the desire to "get it" or get what other people are getting.

[@Stephanie-hg5ns]

BreakSkateSoccer
How much of Prince have you experienced?