Elizabeth Alexander Hopes Inaugural Poem Will Give People a Moment of Pause

Posted on January 19, 2009

46-year-old Elizabeth Alexander was given the honor of creating and reading a special poem at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The BBC says Alexander hopes the poem she has written - and will read tomorrow - will give people a "moment of pause" - a moment to "stand and think."

When asked what she is hoping to accomplish on the day, her answer was instructive: "I am hoping to offer language that will give people a moment of pause. That there is almost a quiet pool in which they are able to stand and think for a moment. I think that's part of what poetry does. It arrests us". The proof will, of course, be in the poetry.

Previous inaugural poets have not had the most impressive track records.

Indeed, Ms Alexander is only the fourth to fill the role. Robert Frost was the first, at John F Kennedy's inauguration in 1961. It wasn't his finest hour, as the sun and wind dazzled him so much that he abandoned the poem he had written for the occasion, and instead recited "The Gift Outright", which he knew by heart.

Robert Frost didn't read the poem he had intended to? Hopefully, Ms. Alexander won't be flustered by the weather tomorrow. It is supposed to be cold with a chance of flurries but no gusty winds.

Update 1-20-09: You can listen to Elizabeth Alexander's reading of the inaugural poem and see a transcript here.

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