Unsurprisingly the poetry reading was one of my favourite parts of the Obama inauguration ceremony (another being Aretha Franklin’s awesome hat). You can read the entire poem by Elizabeth Alexander on the New York Times website right here.
Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”
Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.
What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.
In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.
Missed the poetry reading. On Danish TV, they nattered away during it. Will give the poem a look sometime.
I think what I love about this new president is that he has managed to raise americans from their apathetic stupor. We have been snubbed by our government for so long, repeatedly shown that what we believed or wanted was irrelevant to what Bush & co would do, that this excitement and hope is even more precious. Even if he achieves nothing else (which is unlikely!), this is wonderful to see.
Just ead the poem. Got all misty-eyed again …
This got me misty eyed too. Now actually seeing the words in print it seems more profound to me.
Heck, I’m been sobbing on and off during the news coverage these past few days.