National Poetry Month may have come to an end at the end of April, but that doesn't mean poetry cannot be celebrated all year-round. Yesterday, poet Amanda Gorman received a welcomed surprise after a fan searched the word "speech" on Google. To Gorman's surprise, a picture of her speaking at the most recent presidential inauguration appeared.
"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 windswept northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution. We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states. We will rise from the sunbaked south. We will rebuild, reconcile and recover," Gorman said during her inaugural performance.
Gorman's star power has also risen since performing in the nation's capital. Within the last five months, Gorman has transitioned from being a well-respected poet to a household name. Her year kicked off with a performance at the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. From there, she went on to perform at Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. She also signed a deal with IMG Models and earned one million pre-orders for her latest work, The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country.
As Gorman moves further into the spotlight, she hopes to use her position of visibility to inspire other young Black girls to chase their dream. During an interview with Michelle Obama, she spoke openly about her success and future aspirations.
"For girls of color, we’re treated as lightning or gold in the pan—we’re not treated as things that are going to last. You really have to crown yourself with the belief that what I’m about and what I’m here for is way beyond this moment," she told Obama.
"I’m learning that I am not lightning that strikes once. I am the hurricane that comes every single year, and you can expect to see me again soon."
Photo Credit: Getty Images