Mr President, Dr Biden, Madam Vice-President, Mr Emhoff,
Americans and the world,
When day comes we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade? The loss we carry asea we must wade. We’ve braved the belly of the beast. We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace. In the norms and notions of what just is isn’t always justice. And yet, the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it. 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 our union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man. 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. 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 will forever be tied together victorious. Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division.
Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid. If we’re to live up to her 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. We’ve seen a forest that would shatter our nation rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. This effort very nearly succeeded.
But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith we trust for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption. We feared it 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?
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be a country that is bruised, but whole, benevolent, but bold, fierce, and free. 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 one we were left with. Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one. We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west. We will rise from the wind-swept north-east where our forefathers first realized revolution. We will rise from the Lake Rim cities of the midwestern states. We will rise from the sun-baked south. We will rebuild, reconcile and recover in every known nook of our nation, in every corner called our country our people diverse and beautiful will emerge battered and beautiful.
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.
lol @ LLOLLO. I like the idea of easy middle-of-the-night reading.
I'll also add here that it's interesting to see Gorman's verse arranged as lines of prose and paragraphs. This arrangement highlights that the poem we heard Gorman give voice to on Wednesday is really an argument: While democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated.
As a fashions statement, absolutely pearls are now back in fashion and not associated with Sarah Huckabee Sanders, but with class and brilliance. yeah, my own personal stalker calls me psychotic, how adorable.
Did you hang up your horns or take them down to wear after the insurrection, Racket?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune Turtle
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 12:41 pm
she was pretty rad
she was pretty rad
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane fishcane
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 12:44 pm
Fantastic
Fantastic
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low Trailhead
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 12:49 pm
She is now her own tough act
She is now her own tough act to follow.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sigmund SeaMonster
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 12:58 pm
All In!
All In!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rasputin O'Leary Rasmataz
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 01:02 pm
Moving. Why we love our
Moving. She nailed it,, reminding us why we love and have faith in our country. Made patriots and poets everywhere proud.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 01:05 pm
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Highnote Stringtwang
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 01:21 pm
Love.
Love.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: That’s Nancy with the laughin’ face Nancyinthesky
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 02:27 pm
Brilliant.
Brilliant.
time to celebrate, and get to work repairing the damage Trump did to our nation.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: comic book colors on a violin river... Cumberlyn
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 02:29 pm
Simply Stunning !
Simply Stunning !
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Strangha Slickrock
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 04:43 pm
Mr President, Dr Biden, Madam
Mr President, Dr Biden, Madam Vice-President, Mr Emhoff,
Americans and the world,
When day comes we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade? The loss we carry asea we must wade. We’ve braved the belly of the beast. We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace. In the norms and notions of what just is isn’t always justice. And yet, the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it. 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 our union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man. 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. 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 will forever be tied together victorious. Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division.
Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid. If we’re to live up to her 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. We’ve seen a forest that would shatter our nation rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. This effort very nearly succeeded.
But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith we trust for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption. We feared it 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?
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be a country that is bruised, but whole, benevolent, but bold, fierce, and free. 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 one we were left with. Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one. We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west. We will rise from the wind-swept north-east where our forefathers first realized revolution. We will rise from the Lake Rim cities of the midwestern states. We will rise from the sun-baked south. We will rebuild, reconcile and recover in every known nook of our nation, in every corner called our country our people diverse and beautiful will emerge battered and beautiful.
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.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: That’s Nancy with the laughin’ face Nancyinthesky
on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 05:39 pm
I like how the poet looked
I like how the poet looked wearing pearls! I had stashed mine away after the lying POS Sarah Huckabee Sanders ruined them for me.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ LLOLLO
on Friday, January 22, 2021 – 02:16 pm
Just posted the poem in the
Just posted the poem in the Zone's poetry archive for easy middle-of-the-night reading: https://vivalazone.org/creative-cosmic/poems-etc
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Friday, January 22, 2021 – 02:32 pm
lol @ LLOLLO. I like the idea
lol @ LLOLLO. I like the idea of easy middle-of-the-night reading.
I'll also add here that it's interesting to see Gorman's verse arranged as lines of prose and paragraphs. This arrangement highlights that the poem we heard Gorman give voice to on Wednesday is really an argument: While democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Racketinmyhead Racketinmyhead
on Friday, January 22, 2021 – 07:30 pm
>>>>had stashed mine away
>>>>had stashed mine away after the lying POS Sarah Huckabee Sanders ruined them for me.
triggered by pearls. Straight up psychotic!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: doctor doolittle
on Friday, January 22, 2021 – 07:55 pm
God Bless Her!
God Bless Her!
Maya is proud!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: That’s Nancy with the laughin’ face Nancyinthesky
on Friday, January 22, 2021 – 07:59 pm
As a fashions statement,
As a fashions statement, absolutely pearls are now back in fashion and not associated with Sarah Huckabee Sanders, but with class and brilliance. yeah, my own personal stalker calls me psychotic, how adorable.
Did you hang up your horns or take them down to wear after the insurrection, Racket?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: _________ Plf9905
on Friday, January 22, 2021 – 08:24 pm
Stellar ____ and Way Way
Stellar ____ and Way Way Talented