At President Biden’s inauguration this week, there were many joy-filled moments. One that stood out was poet Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb.” At twenty-two, Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet ever in the United States and she is the current National Youth Poet Laureate. Gorman told the New York Times that her inaugural poem both tried to acknowledge the last few harrowing weeks (and years) but also speak to the themes of unity and reconciliation. She told the New York Times: “There is space for grief and horror and hope and unity, and I also hope that there is a breath for joy in the poem, because I do think we have a lot to celebrate at this inauguration.” As she says in the poem:
If we merge mercy with might, and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy and change our
children’s birthright…
For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
