I borrowed this from the Free Little Library by my house because I'd never actually read Amanda Gorman's inauguration poem before. I remember listening to her read in 2021, but I think reading words on a page can be a different experience than hearing them spoken.

The Hill We Climb feels different to read in 2024 than it did in 2021. Gorman's verse is ringing with hope in 2021 as we moved away from the Trump presidency and into a newer, hopeful era. In 2024, Gorman's optimism feels out of touch/out of reach as Biden steps down as the Democratic nominee and his unpopularity due to lack of protection of abortion rights and his position on Gaza. I want to believe in Gorman's verse in 2024, but I don't know if I do.

The political climate right now doesn't detract from how gorgeous and skillful Gorman's verse is. She effortlessly weaves together historical references and her personal experience as a Black woman in America to create incredibly impactful poetry. I haven't read her first collection yet, but I need to because she is truly an American poet to watch.