Tuesday, January 20, 2009

This day


These are words from the poem written and read by Elizabeth Alexander for the Inauguration of President Barack Obama:

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.
What if. What if, indeed.

Whatever our political affiliation may be, let us all pray for this new president and for the United States of America and for all the world.

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