I, like much of America, watched the Inauguration with part of my psyche clenched in anticipation of something terrible that might happen in spite of the precautions, the extra security, the relentless press coverage. In spite of this ball of anxiety, I enjoyed Lady Gaga, JLo, even the fashionable outfits - all the beautiful trappings of ceremony conducted with grace. I teared up at Kamala Harris's oath and Senator Klobuchar's words, and I chuckled at Bernie's now infamous mittens. I started to breathe easier when President Biden made his first address as #46. But is was when a small woman, shining in yellow and red stepped up and began to speak, accentuating her words with flowing hands like a dancer, that the clouds parted and the sun shone brightly to burn away the last four years.
Her name - Amanda Gorman. Her words - magic.
You can see her read The Hills We Climb here.
From the New York Times:
22-year-old National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman recites poem at President Biden's inauguration, "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."
