Praise Song for the Day by Elizabeth Alexander

   “Praise Song for the Day,” by Elizabeth Alexander, used a lot of imagery that unified the population of the United States.  The succession of images like someone “trying to make music,” “a woman and her son wait for the bus / a farmer considers the changing sky; / a teacher says, ‘Take out your pencils. Begin’” really stresses that we are not all so different from each other.  We all are “going about our business,” if you will, going through the motions and getting through the day.  In this way she makes this historic event, the first African-American president, mean more than just an achievement for African-Americans.  It is an achievement for the entire country to celebrate how far our society has come.

            The line, “I need to see what’s on the other side; I know there’s something better down the road” is a clear reference to everyone who has worked so hard for African-Americans to get to this point.  Members of every race have worked for the further acceptance of African-Americans, and research shows that the more time passes, the more accepting American society becomes of others.  This is also a special reference because the inauguration was on the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most famous advocates of the Civil Rights Movement.

            Overall, I was unimpressed with the inaugural poem.  While I saw how it connected to the momentous occasion, and I could appreciate the message, I thought it was a little simple.  For some reason it sounded to me like I could have written it, which is not saying much.  I expected something deeper or more complex.  However, I did like the last line:  “On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp — praise song for walking forward in that light.”  It represents the precarious position our country is in, both economically and socially.  The hope Obama has instilled in the American citizens has presented that light into which we are ready to “walk forward.”  We truly are on the “brink.”  If we teeter or hesitate, we fall.  If we press on with a strong plan and a strong attitude, things can really change for the better.