The inauguration of a U.S. president is always a momentous occasion, and this year’s inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris was no different. The event included performances from celebrity acts such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks. Yet the youngest and lesser renowned artist on the bill wound up stealing the show.
Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old National Youth Poet Laureate and aspiring presidential candidate, dazzled viewers and those in attendance with the reading of her inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb.” In just under six minutes, Gorman expressively delivered and danced through each line of her poem, culminating in rousing plaudits and praise from her audience.
It was an incredible feat, as Gorman demonstrated how artistic expression can uniquely convey messaging in ways that are more impactful than conventional means. Gorman’s memorable performance resulted in a round of media interviews and TV spots with CNN, Good Morning America and The Ellen Show, to name a few, as well as a modeling deal with IMG Models.
Such are the marks of an indelible act. Below are a few stirring passages of Gorman’s poem that we found particularly inspirational.
Finding Light in Darkness
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.
Forging A Union with Purpose
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.
Seeking Harmony, Not Harm
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.
Finding Hope in Turmoil
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.
Daring to Climb
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.
Prevailing Over Catastrophe
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 once we asked,
how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?
Now we assert,
How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
Our Nation’s Legacy
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.
There is Always Light
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.
Art certainly has its place in effective communication. The question is, are we using it to our full advantage? In business and PR settings, this may seem impossible – yet the idea shouldn’t be dismissed. Out-of-the-box methods can inspire innovation. For example, consider how introducing a little art into a standard infographic can help distill a wealth of information into a compelling story that is quickly absorbed.
The poets of the world, like young Amanda Gorman, show us how it can be done. Art can evoke a keen sense of emotion and help communicators convey messages in ways that other methods simply fall short. It is a powerful tool that must not be overlooked.