The 23-year-old is only the sixth poet in U.S. history to read their work at a presidential inauguration, according to Jen Benka, executive director of the Academy of American Poets. As it stands, just four American presidents have included a poetry reading at their inaugurations: Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy.
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace and the norms and notions of what just is, isn't always justice
Amanda Gorman, Youth Poet Laureate
Benka was excited that Biden continued the tradition in 2021. Inaugural poems fall under the category of occasional poetry, Benka explained, the label encompassing poems that are written for important moments in time. She said she's been stunned by the response Gorman received after the inauguration, noting it’s the most attention a poet has gotten for their work in recent memory.
“Amanda gave people lines to hold on to during a particularly challenging moment in time,” Benka said. “It speaks to the unique power of a poem to help us through these difficult times.”
Since Gorman’s books have grown in popularity, we've taken a look at the other inaugural poets to have read for presidents, alongside the books including those poems.
Gorman, named the country’s first Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, read “The Hill We Climb” during Biden's inauguration as the 46th president of the U.S. A special edition of the inaugural poem launched in March, and it also appears in Gorman’s newly released collection of poems, “Call Us What We Carry.” Gorman’s children’s picture book, “Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem,” was also just released.
Blanco, the nation’s first Latino and openly gay inaugural poet, read his poem “One Today” during the second inauguration of Obama. The poem was turned into an illustrated book with art by Dav Pilkey, creator of the “Captain Underpants” series.
Alexander read her poem “Praise Song For The New Day” during Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of the United States. The poem is published in this collectible edition of the work.
Williams read his poem “Of History and Hope” during Clinton's second inauguration. The poem is featured in Williams’ book “The Ways We Touch,” a larger collection of his works.
Angelou read her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at Clinton's first inauguration as the 42nd president of the United States. The poem is published in this book, a hard copy edition of the work.
Frost was the first poet ever to read a work at a presidential inauguration. He read his poem “The Gift Outright” at Kennedy's inauguration as the 35th president of the United States. The poem is published in this book, which features all eleven of Frost’s individual books of poetry from 1913 to1962.
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