“The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman

Two days ago, the United States of America celebrated the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris. During the inauguration ceremony, Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman gave a powerful performance of her incredible, original poem, “The Hill We Climb”. Two days later, her words still stay with me. Below is just one of the many standout verses from Amanda’s poem, as well as a link to Amanda’s performance and a transcript of her poem.

[Poetry] The Choice

On the bathroom floor,
Glass shard in hand,
It catches the light,
Is this the end?

And the tears, they
Bounce off the glass.
Shutting my eyes, I’ll
Just make this fast.

[Poetry] Bridge

I’m standing on one side
Of a deep cavern with jagged spikes
While my dreams wait patiently on the other side
For me to build a bridge.

But I have no tools,
All I have are societal pressures
And familial expectations
Clawing at me from behind
Like nails on the chalkboard of my mind
Threatening to push me over the edge,

[Poetry] Coming Home

In the dark, I followed the stars,
Twinkling steadily and kindly,
Lighting the path to a place so far,
To a place waiting patiently for me.

Twinkling steadily and kindly,
The stars guide me as I make my way
To a place waiting patiently for me,
I know I am meant to arrive one day.

[Poetry] After The Winter

I do not fear the chill of Winter,
Not its fingers blue and cold
Nor my breath frozen in their hold.

I do not fear the dark of Winter,
Not its suffocating shadow
Nor the voices whispering just below.

[Poetry] Ingredients To My Poetry

The love is for all those whose hearts
Are tough from being torn apart
By heartbreak’s touch, by betrayal’s agony,
And are too scared to once again start.

The strength is for all those whose nights
Are full of terrors and invisible frights,
Who spend their days enduring silently
To stay alive in an endless fight.

Reminders

Remember not to compare yourself to strangers on the internet. 

Remember not to let the numbers—of likes, of followers, of zeros on a check—make you feel like you are less than, because you are not. You are enough.

Remember your dreams are valid.

[Poetry] Safe Space

I promise I’ll lend you my ear,
If you will lend me your honesty.
I promise I’ll listen without judgment,
If you will speak without lies.

This is a place of emotions,
A place where it’s okay to feel,
I promise they won’t hurt you,
I promise neither will I.

Pause. Shall We Read Some Poetry?

We are at the halfway mark of April aka the month where poetry gets all the love and everyone thinks it’s cool I’m a poet instead of feeling sorry for me that I’ll never make any money. Although, as the poet Robert Graves once said, “there’s no money in poetry, but then there’s no poetry in money, either.”

It is unfortunate this year’s National Poetry Month is in the midst of a global pandemic, but also oddly opportune—why don’t we all take a pause from the frightening reality outside our homes and escape briefly into the comforting lines of beautiful poetry?

[Poetry] Love, Hope, and Feathers

What do you love?

I love…rainy days, fuzzy socks,
A steaming mug of tea,
The way hope glimmers in one’s heart
And sparks warmth and bravery.