On a cold winter day, a new dawn of excitement began.
The country celebrated America!
The inauguration of our new president, Joe Biden, Jr., and vice president, Kamala Harris, took place on the same steps as that of an unexpected insurrection a week before.
The opening words of President Biden's Inaugural Address rang through the chill as a strong message of hope. From the beginning of the speech to the very end, inspiration flowed. Democracy and unity were key ideas delivered with heart and purposeful intent.
This is democracy's day.
A day of history and hope.
Of renewal and resolve.
-President Joe Biden
 |
| This is America's day. This is democracy's day." - President Joe Biden |
🇺🇸
Windswept flurries floated in
On a winter day.
A new dawn, alive with passion,
Rose for America.
Words exchanged.
Oaths of trust promised.
Songs uplifted
The sweet sound of one word,
Democracy, filled the sky
As unity joined in.
History was made.
"My soul is in this!"
Was heard around the globe-
A solemn and celebratory
Entrance for the 46th president.
A young voice spoke
of America, unity, and change.
"History has its eyes on us."
"The dawn is ours."
Fireworks exploded.
Hopefilled eyes lifted.
America begins to heal.
©CV, 2021 🇺🇸
"...Being American is more than a pride
we inherit.
It's the past we step into
and how we repair it.
-Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate, The Hill We Climb
🇺🇸
To keep the spotlight on the poetry of Inauguration Day, Laura Shovan, author, poet, and host of Poetry Friday this week, focuses on the words of Amanda Gorman.
Teaching Tolerance offers a curriculum guide to teach The Hill We Climb and the 2021 Inauguration here.
Carol! This is beautiful! I hope Amanda's poem becomes a book of it's own. It really should be. This is a fantastic revisit of her moments shining.
ReplyDeleteI think many of us are interested in Amanda's poem because it is not only an inspirational piece of writing but the delivery was so masterfully presented.
DeletePenguin Books just announced that the poem will be published on its own, in April!
DeleteThat is wonderful news, Linda. Thanks for letting me know.
DeleteLovely tribute, Carol, showcasing "hope" and "repair," which are so needed. Here's to the healing, uniting power poetry.
ReplyDeleteFran, it is with a deep sigh of peace that I ended Inauguration Day festivities. It was a deal of healing and rejoicing and I hope many more follow.
DeleteBeautiful memories, Carol. You captured so much of that day. I could barely move from the sofa, watching, watching, grabbing another cup of coffee in the early morn - sigh! It was wonderful as each new moment arose. (Yes, you may use my picture/poem you asked about.) Cheers for new beginnings!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I did the same. I wanted to take in every bit of the inspirational day. Each part of the inauguration was special and as a whole it offered something for everyone. I loved the repetition of the word democracy in the inaugural address and the choice of music. Amanda Gorman's poem was a showstopper. Thanks for your image poem.
DeleteI feel the positive energy of that day woven in your post, Carol. "My whole soul is in this" -- it makes me well up with tears once again. Thanks for sharing your link in this week's round up!
ReplyDeleteYes, Laura, there was so much positivity throughout #InaugurationDay. The real job has begun. I am hopeful!
DeleteYes, Laura, there was so much positivity throughout #InaugurationDay. The real job has begun. I am hopeful!
ReplyDeleteOh Carol, what a beautiful montage of the day! You touch on many of the things that struck me, like the "hopefilled eyes." I loved seeing the combination of determination, humility, and wonder in both President Biden's eyes and Vice President Harris's eyes. I'd swear I could hear our country's collective sigh of relief.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, Michelle. There was an exhale at the end of the night. The last photo of the President and his wife looking at the fireworks that I took while watching the ceremony was priceless.
DeleteYay for America! What a happy day and you covered all the high points beautifully in your post, Carol. Healing, Democracy, Unity, Change.
ReplyDeleteJanice, so many of us have been waiting for this day, for the change in the way we look at life. This inauguration was the end of a long wait. Now the real business of healing a broken country is upon us.
DeleteA beautiful celebration of a beautiful celebration.
ReplyDeleteI hope your Aussie friends also thought that this Inauguration Day celebration was a wonderful shoutout to democracy, Sally. Thanks for joining me here.
DeleteHappy dancing to your gorgeous poetic/pictorial presentation of inauguration day, Carol. "46 bells rang" - yes!...46 is my new favorite number! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by today, Bridget. 46 rings for democracy even as far aways as Switzerland.
DeleteI LOVE your illustrated poem-recap of the day! It's great to be able to believe in Democracy again!
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, we can all exhale now and then inhale the fresh sound of democracy.
DeleteThis is a beautiful celebration of US and the Inauguration. Thank you for your poetic rendition of the day--the hope shines through.
ReplyDeleteHope does shine through, Kay. Thanks for joining me here for the recap of a glorious day.
DeleteLove how you took us through the whole day, Carol. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteRose, I wanted to savor every piece of the Inauguration celebration so I not only did that for myself but for posterity at my blog site.
DeleteGreat post, Carol!
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining me from afar, Ruth. Here's to hope for great outcomes stemming from Inauguration Day.
DeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to a day where I felt hope was reborn for our country. Your post helped me relive the wonder of that day! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining me here, Susan. My daughter lives in a suburb of Washington, DC and she said that she could hear the fireworks going off. They were the largest firework show in DC ever, she said. This event at the close of the Inauguration will always be in my mind. Let hope prevail!
DeleteHi, Carol--it looks like you had a lot of fun working to encapsulate that heart-filling experience in just a few words. Let it be noisy with justice all year!
ReplyDelete