h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Inaugural ceremonies bring out the highbrow in us all. Stephen Colbert, who studied philosophy and theatre arts at uni, offers us a cure for this malaise.

First of all, the - in my opinion, very good, shame on the Guardian - inaugural poem that was read last Monday by Maine poet Richard Blanco, entitled 'One Today':

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/jan-june13/inaugpoem_01-21.html

Listen, read along, and wipe away a tear. Now read on.

Colbert stifled a yawn, not very convincingly. 'Would it hurt to put a rhyme in there?' he complained. Then he suggested his own inaugural poem:

'There onces was a man named Barack,
Whose re-election came as a shock,
He raised taxes I pay,
And turned marriage gay,
And now he's coming after your Glock.'

Hear his recital here:

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/423048/january-21-2013/obama-s-second-inauguration

At the first Obama inaugural, Elixabeth Alexander read a poem called 'Praise Song for the Day'. Later, she had the opportunity to discuss this with poetry maven Stephen Colbert, who was ready to deconstruct 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock' with her. She maintained her dignity by not quite falling off the chair laughing. It's available on Open Culture:

http://www.openculture.com/2009/01/inaugural_poet_talks_with_stephen_colbert.html

I'd like to point out that Stephen Colbert may be in danger of becoming a victim of The Onion Syndrome - at least one blog I consulted while writing this praised his Inaugural Limerick, saying, 'If you're a Republican, you will like this.'

Do we worry about the US? No, not much. As Franz Werfel said, 'The situation is hopeless, but not serious.'

Richard Blanco sounds like everything we once believed to be a true american. Well done that man!

Amen. Try his website, and read more of his poems. They're actually interesting to read.

Okay, science has determined that I was right. (Of course. )

Stephen Colbert IS subject to The Onion Syndrome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjUBJDfoJWg