The Youngest Inaugural Poet
Amanda Gorman delivers stellar spoken-word piece at Presidential Inauguration
Amanda Gorman started off her speech by asking, “When day comes, we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”
January 28, 2021
On Jan. 20, Amanda Gorman read her original poem “The Hill We Climb,” as she stood on Capitol Hill and commemorated the Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Gorman is only 22 years old and is already an award-winning poet, published author, cum laude graduate of Harvard University, and of course, has been named National Youth Poet Laureate. Through her inauguration poem, she reminded people that our hopes and dreams can be achieved through unity and harmony.
She used many writing styles to create vivid images of the country we can create. But the most significant to me was her use of rhymes.
“Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed, a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.” This line specifically really highlights how we, as American citizens, have “weathered” through the hard times we have been faced with. This doesn’t mean that our country is broken though, it just means that we need to work harder to solve our problems.
Her use of alliteration also shined- “That even as we grieved, we grew, that even as we hurt, we hoped, that even as we tired, we tried.” Gorman highlighted how we as a nation have been hurt, tired, and pained, but through it all, we grew, hoped, and continued to try for a better future.
The poem “The Hill We Climb” addresses current events in a lyrically-beautiful manner. Gorman makes references to past events and gives inspiration to all in her melodic verses.
When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.
— Amanda Gorman
