National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman at Presidential Inauguration

Complete remarks from Amanda Gorman at Presidential Inauguration.

"There is always a light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it."

#inauguration2021

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[stevenkellow]

Full transcript:

When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry,
a sea we must wade
We've braved the belly of the beast
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace
And the norms and notions
of what just is
Isn’t always just-ice
And yet the dawn is ours
before we knew it
Somehow we do it
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn’t broken
but simply unfinished
We the successors of a country and a time
Where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother
can dream of becoming president
only to find herself reciting for one
And yes we are far from polished
far from pristine
but that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect
We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious
Not because we will never again know defeat
but because we will never again sow division
Scripture tells us to envision
that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid
If we’re to live up to our own time
Then victory won’t lie in the blade
But in all the bridges we’ve made
That is the promise to glade
The hill we climb
If only we dare
It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it
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
In this truth
in this faith we trust
For while we have our eyes on the future
history has its eyes on us
This is the era of just redemption
We feared at its inception
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs
of such a terrifying hour
but within it we found the power
to author a new chapter
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves
So while we once we asked,
how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?
Now we assert
How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
We will not march back to what was
but move to what shall be
A country that is bruised but whole,
benevolent but bold,
fierce and free
We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation
Our blunders become their burdens
But one thing is certain:
If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy
and change our children’s birthright
So let us leave behind a country
better than the one we were left with
Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,
we will rise from the windswept northeast
where our forefathers first realized revolution
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,
we will rise from the sunbaked south
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
and every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful
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

[briankimzey]

This young Woman, Amanda Gorman, is Absolutely Brilliant!!!
She moved me!!! She stole the show!!! Amanda Gorman is an Amazing example of America's youth!!! She is Absolutely Amazing!!!👏👏👏👏
God Bless you Amanda!!!🙏❤

[jamesskingley]

"There is Always light, if only we're Brave enough..."

[thedarkknight]

“You can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if we just keep moving, you’ll come to a better place.”
-Uncle Iroh

[carstenmarquardt]

The endless power of speech. I have a dream revisited! Greetings from München/Germany.

[lyndaschnirl]

My God, she had my heart and mind withim 5 seconds, that is one of the most beautiful, inspirational, truthful poems I ever heard. I want this on my wall. Smart, articulate, talented and oh so beautiful, she is an example for people everywhere. AMEN thank you God

[OriginalSocalgranny]

You are a bright, shining star! Go forth and light our way - we will follow! Thank you for this moment of beauty and inspiration.

[hongkongmomslife]

“Being American is more than a pride we inherit, it’s the past we step into and how we repair it”...as an American born Chinese, this hits home.

[scottgolde]

Where have I been not to have heard of this incredible young poet? My media blackout has shielded me from the barrage of daily bad news, trump anything, reality tv, paying for media subscriptions or services and apparently HOPE from the brightest and younger of our era. Easily, best words spoken at the inauguration! I will vote for her when she turns thirty five for any American political office she aspires to. THANK YOU AMANDA GORMAN!!! Mr. President Biden: please take a cue from this young lady to keep your upcoming speeches succinct and precise. I am still checking out her other poems on YouTube. #AmandaForPresident

[PimpyGDawg]

Holy crap, that woman's performance is worthy of Rabindranath Tagore, and she's only 22? That was incredibly inspiring.

[kanannerz]

I love the way she speaks. Theres something so soothing about her voice but she still sounds so powerful. I'm not sure how to word it XD

[garrygrissom]

Our country has a bright future with our awesome young people. Outstanding service to your country today Amanda!! Keep up the good work.

[jonward]

Words really do matter. Thank you, Ms. Gorman, for reminding us of that.🇺🇸

[ohiostyle]

I’m from the hood and this blew my mind had to rewatch blessed to be part of 2021 poem was lit !!!

[gerardbiddle]

An inspirational young poet who embodies the dreams of America’s youth and who challenges the sceptical. Well done Amanda. Thank you very much for your inspiration and challenge.

[HVRO]

I like her style. It's wild. Her poem she obliterated. You felt the shrapnel of words she alliterated.
Beautiful poem!

[deviritter]

Tears in my eyes - i must be getting old. That was magnificent.

[henryalbagli]

Your mother taught you well
My parents were immigrants, my mother learned English with me. She taught me how to read and I could read with feeling like you. I'm 62 years old and you inspired me.xoxo

[sonn]

Not a nation broken just unfinished i caught chills 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Ian-Steele]

Watching this makes me understand that America is born again and the darkness of the last 4 years is over. 👏👏🏼👏🏿👏🏾