A poem? In Franklin Matters? Why?
Sometimes the poet has the words to say what needs to be said. In this case, the new work by Amanda Gorman fits the need so very well.
‘New Day's Lyric’ by Amanda Gorman
Mourning, we come to mend,
Withered, we come to weather,
Battered, we come to better.
Tethered by this year of yearning,
That though we weren't ready for this,
We have been readied by it.
Steadily we vow that no matter
We must always pave a way forward.
This hope is our door, our portal.
Even if we never get back to normal,
Someday we can venture beyond it,
To leave the known and take the first steps.
So let us not return to what was normal,
But reach toward what is next.
What was cursed, we will cure.
What was plagued, we will prove pure.
Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree,
Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we foresee,
Where we weren't aware, we're now awake;
Are now these moments we make,
And our hearts, once all together beaten,
Come, look up with kindness yet,
For even solace can be sourced from sorrow.
We remember, not just for the sake of yesterday,
In our hearts, we hear it:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
Be bold, sang Time this year,
For when you honor yesterday,
Need not be forgot nor for none.
It defines us, binds us as one,
Come over, join this day just begun.
For wherever we come together,
We will forever overcome.