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Watch Amanda Gorman recite her poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ at Joe Biden’s inauguration

The recent Harvard grad, 22, became the youngest inaugural poet in American history.

By Kevin Slane

January 20, 2021

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Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman recited her new poem “The Hill We Climb” at Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration on Wednesday.

Following performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks, the recent Harvard grad, 22, became the youngest inaugural poet in American history, reciting a poem that she finished writing following the Capitol siege earlier this month.

“I had this huge thing, probably one of the most important things I’ll ever do in my career,” she told The New York Times. “It was like, if I try to climb this mountain all at once, I’m just going to pass out.”

Despite writing about half of the poem on the night of the Pro-Trump rioters storming the U.S. Capitol, Gorman’s poem struck an optimistic tone, calling for Americans to reconcile, rebuild, and recover.

“Somehow we weathered and witnessed / A nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished,” Gorman said. “There is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it / If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

Watch Gorman’s full reading below.

Amanda Gorman’s full poem on #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/IVltmVt91y

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 20, 2021