5 VITAMINS TO TAKE DAILY FROM AMANDA GORMAN’S INAUGURAL POEM

 


While Kamala Harris made history by being the first black woman to become the US Vice President, Amanda Gorman also made history by being the first youth inaugural poet ever.

Awe, amazement and wonder filled the minds of many- home and abroad. It was not just about the poem read but the wisdom and craft contained in it. In fact, a political commentator, Van Jones, described her performance as powerful and eloquent. He made further statements saying that the society is filled with so much data but “data ain’t wisdom”.

It is the reality of our society that data outweigh wisdom. This is the reason why I thought to highlight five themes from Amanda's poem that we could absorb into our lives in the midst of the data-filled world. I call them 5 VITAMINS because vitamins are essential for healthy living.


Many a time, unforgiveness cloud our sense of judgment. It becomes difficult to see things as they really are. It could lead to biased thoughts, misinterpretation of actions, violence and even grave misconduct such as murder. If I were to rewrite the first line of this stanza, I would put it this way; 

Let us lift our gazes to what stands before us and not what stands between us. Let us put aside the grudge and hatred as we focus on the good that lies ahead of us. For it is a necessary step we must take towards progress.”


Beginning from the part that says “we seek harm to none and harmony for all”, let us stretch our arms of love, care and support towards one another and lay off those arms of gossip, scandal, mockery and the likes that wound and brutalize our fellows. 

Let the arm of our mouth encourage not discourage; let it yield integrity not falsehood; let it bless not curse; let it build not tear down; let it comfort not confuse.

Let the arm of our hands heal not wound; let it defend not kill; let it nurture not destroy; let it console not worsen; let it gather not scatter; let it hold up not push away.

Let the arm of our feet seek peace not division; understanding not discord; empowerment not disempowerment; good not bad.

Let our artificial arms of finance, good offices and ammunitions be used for a good cause for we seek harmony for all and harm to none.


Let resilience be a part of our attribute. Our grief become a growth agent. We thicken as we pass through the thick and thin. We toughen in tough situations. We keep moving when the storms are high. We do not bury our head in self pity. 

Yes, we cry but we soldier on. Yes, we are tired but we keep trying in different ways. Yes, we hurt but it does not shatter our hope. Of course, we are beaten but not broken. We might be overwhelmed but not overcome. We rise above it all and while we encounter flames, we are being refined by the fire

Let this be heard of us far and near.


Also, let it be our culture that we are knitted tightly in unity. Together, we will be victorious not necessarily doing the same thing on the same field, but doing our uniqueness with unified minds. While times of failing will be inevitable, let it not be a fall out of unity, love and understanding. Instead, let it be a fall in the process of unlearninglearning and relearning.


We carry within us the birth of a new day. The dawn of greatness, progress, and change lies on us. It is in our hands to rewrite our destiny and a great future, both for us and the generation ahead. 

To take responsibility of our words and actions is the bravery required to reveal the light seated in us “for there is always light, if only we’re brave to see it; if only we’re brave enough to be it”.


Beautiful people, till I write again, take your vitamins daily. It will improve your health generally and your mental health in particular.

You are loved.



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