"While art and literature have always played an integral part in shaping the history of our civilization, the inclusion of poetry at the Presidential inauguration is relatively recent." - poets.org To date, only six poets have read or recited poems at U.S. presidential inaugurations. Enjoy the collection of the poems below.
Presidential Inauguration of Joe Biden, 2021: Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb”
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, It can never be permanently defeated.
https://youtu.be/2mTmTdOgv0M
<Listen=">Listen" to="to" it="it" here.="here</a>.">
Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, 2013: Richard Blanco, “One Today”
My face, your face, millions of faces in morning’s mirrors, each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day: pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights, fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges arrayed like rainbows begging our praise. Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper— bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us, on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives— to teach geometry, or ring-up groceries as my mother did for twenty years, so I could write this poem.
https://youtu.be/AkSRy8SGTEE
Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, 2009: Elizabeth Alexander, “Praise Song for the Day”
Say it plain: that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges,
picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign, the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables.
https://youtu.be/_vLBnFk-OFc
Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton, 1997: Miller Williams, “Of History and Hope”
We have memorized America, how it was born and who we have been and where. In ceremonies and silence we say the words, telling the stories, singing the old songs. We like the places they take us. Mostly we do. The great and all the anonymous dead are there. We know the sound of all the sounds we brought. The rich taste of it is on our tongues. But where are we going to be, and why, and who? The disenfranchised dead want to know. We mean to be the people we meant to be, to keep on going where we meant to go.
https://youtu.be/xPIgETlWaas
Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton, 1993: Maya Angelou, “On the Pulse of Morning”
Each of you, descendant of some passed On traveller, has been paid for. You, who gave me my first name, you, Pawnee, Apache, Seneca, you Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, then Forced on bloody feet, Left me to the employment of Other seekers—desperate for gain, Starving for gold. You, the Turk, the Arab, the Swede, the German, the Eskimo, the Scot, You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought, Sold, stolen, arriving on the nightmare Praying for a dream. Here, root yourselves beside me. I am that Tree planted by the River, Which will not be moved.
https://youtu.be/59xGmHzxtZ4
Presidential Inauguration of John F. Kennedy, 1961: Robert Frost, “The Gift Outright”
The land was ours before we were the land’s She was our land more than a hundred years Before we were her people. She was ours In Massachusetts, in Virginia, But we were England’s, still colonials, Possessing what we still were unpossessed by, Possessed by what we now no more possessed. Something we were withholding made us weak Until we found out that it was ourselves We were withholding from our land of living, And forthwith found salvation in surrender.
https://youtu.be/XInL2u0DP88
wasn’t=">wasn’t" the="the" poem="poem" Frost="Frost" had="had" prepared for="prepared</a> for" Kennedy’s="Kennedy’s" inauguration.="inauguration." He="He" written="written" a="a" entitled="entitled" “Dedication”=">Dedication</a>”" for="for" occasion,="occasion," but="but" when="when" he="he" took="took" stage,="stage," couldn’t="couldn’t" read="read" it;="it;" glare="glare" on="on" snow="snow" was="was" too="too" strong.="strong." So="So" recited="recited" “The="“The" Gift="Gift" Outright,”="Outright,”" which="which" knew="knew" by="by" heart,="heart," instead.="instead.">
Resource
The Literary Hub, By Emily Temple, January 20, 2021, 9:30am
Youtube
Comments