"...for there is always light if only we are brave enough to see it...if only we are brave enough to be it." - mic drops 🎤🥲... 5:22

That “just is” and “justice” really got me.

I am still moved to tears. I went & found the txt & read her poem & was again moved to tears, How bright a shining star is this amazing young lady. For me she was the highlight of the whole inauguration. If her words are heeded we will emerge the most amazing nation the world has ever known, together we can do that which we could not do alone. I can not praise Amanda enough. She lifts up my hopes, inflames my dreams. Amanda has brought me from "Who cares, no one listens, we are all powerless in a world run by a few. "To the power in the hopes, dreams & actions of the many.

With tears in my eyes, I just watched the future unfolding as it should. I am made to feel proud again...by a skinny Black young woman...who definitely could be President... "While Democracy can be delayed it can never be permanently defeated!"

She spoke so eloquently!

“it’s the past we step into and how we repair it” ...RIGHTEOUS!!

One of the charming and beautiful moments that could be remembered forever about this highly anticipated presidential inauguration. She filled many with hope with a glorious, unbeatable America!

This is what a real life princess looks and acts like. so powerful

I'm 47. I'm so elated to be alive during this time.

The speech of Amanda Gorman is beautiful and full of hope.

Moved to near tears to finally have some semblance of decency and humaneness in the WH. She captured that moment so extremely well for me.

You would never guess she had a speech impediment as a child. Absolutely incredible woman.

I froze when I heard her speak - she simply had me in a trance! This is a moment that I will always remember.

I expected a good poem. I didn’t expect such brilliance. Her use of words, of imagery is astonishing. She made America proud today.

As a young adult, seeing this, seeing a woman be Vice President, a 22 year old National Poet Laureate, and seeing a diverse cabinet, is amazing! It gives me hope for our democracy. Such a powerful poem! She is amazing!

Her words are truly profound and a revelation. She looks amazing in yellow, too!!

"Mr. President, Dr. Biden, Madam Vice President, Mr. Emhoff, Americans and the world: When day comes we ask ourselves, 'where can we find light in this never-ending shade, the loss we carry, a sea we must wade?' "We've braved the belly of the beast, we've learned that quiet isn't always peace. And the norms and notions of what just is isn't always justice. And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it, somehow we do it. Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished. "We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one. "And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn't mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge our union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man. "And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. We close the divide, because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. We seek harm to none and harmony for all. "Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true: that even as we grieved, we grew; that even as we hurt, we hoped; that even as we tired, we tried; that we'll forever be tied together victorious, not because we will never again know defeat but because we will never again sow division. "Scripture tells us to envision that 'everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.' If we're to live up to our own time, then victory won't lie in the blade but in all the bridges we've made. "That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb if only we dare it, because being American is more than a pride we inherit - it's the past we step into and how we repair it. "We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. "In this truth, in this faith we trust for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption we feared at its inception. "We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour, but within it we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves. So while once we asked 'how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe,' now we assert: 'how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?' "We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our enaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation. "Our blunders become their burdens but one thing is certain: If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy in change, our children’s birthright. "So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left. With every breath from my bronze-pounded chest, 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 wind-swept north-east, where our forefathers first realized revolution. We will rise from the lake-rinsed cities of the midwestern states. We will rise from the sun-baked South. We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover in every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful will emerge battered and beautiful. "When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it."

America is even more beautiful now. Thank you, Amanda Gorman. What a gift on this historic day.

All I can say is wow just beautiful and intelligent in every way!

She made me cry tears of joy

God Bless You Amanda this poem left our family breathless amazingly beautiful message Thanks for sharing your gift with the world

I watched this video and tears filled my eyes. I felt the depth of a new beginning and needed healing for our country. How beautiful, how powerful were this beautiful young woman's words. So precise, so well said. I'm so proud to be a citizen of this wonderful country, how proud I am to be an American.

"We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside." #CamandaInCharge2036

Amanda, what a performance: perfect, flawless, beautiful. You are a shining star with a bright future. The world is watching.

This young woman has a bright future with such a full spirit full of light!!!

She is the best I have ever heard,, THE BEST

Me, crying at work

I love the way she almost runs when she's done reading her beautiful poem, so cute what lovely young lady.

Just gorgeous. She’s a treasure .

She is such an inspiration. When i watched her live yesterday i started crying because it was so beautiful and powerful. She is so beautiful and young, and i’m sure is an inspiration for many other young girls out there.

great job to amanda, an inspiration to all--even my 83 year old grandmother

Awesome! Such eloquent, melodious, touching spirit filled words. Own vine and fig tree and ...no one shall be afraid! You Go Ms Gormond!

“Because being American is more than a pride we inherit - it's the past we step into and how we repair it”...Facts on Facts

I know one is not supposed to be jealous/envious of anyone or anything...but I gotta tell, I'm jealous and envious of her intelligence, youth, passion, strength and beauty. Her poem and the delivery of it brings me to tears. Love too, that she is proud of who she is and proud of her heritage aka her hair style.

Her speech is beautiful,God bless,we will get through this with through,love,unity and peace

Amanda Gorman gave a beautiful speech. Touched my heart immensely. 💙🇺🇸❤

Amazing choice by the inaugural committee. Thanks for giving her this opportunity. This poem was put together within the last month and mostly since the 6th. Such an amazing woman!

That was very powerful!

She is powerful !!!! Elegant, Eloquent, and Articulate... Cannot help welling up listening to this young woman.

One of the Greatest Poets Indeed!

I couldn’t help but cry as I heard her speak of justice, of peace, of hope, and of light. Her words make me believe again and give me strength. The future will be bright because we will make it so.

Gold Medal Hockey, stepping on the Moon, Jesse Owens in Berlin, MLK"s "Dream" Speech, Obama's victory party; THIS THIS THIS is a major seminal moment in US History!

I am so impressed with this young ladies' poise, articulation, enthusiasm and energy during this poem! BRAVO and well done Amanda. You will go far in life. I thoroughly enjoyed watch and listening to you. You make me proud to be an American. Thank you.

There is always light if only we are brave enough to see it!

A country that is not finished......soooo true....But one that is always trying to CONTINUE TO grow and embrace EQUALITY

Poet Laureate well deserved, very powerful, and thoughtful.

That was the best ray of hope I have heard in as long as I can remember. Amazing

A beautiful example of harmonic and poetic greatness!)

Amazing poem by an amazing poet and performer!

Am I the only one who watched a billion times

In the footsteps of Maya Angelou. Just amazing 🎉🎉🎉🙏

Her words make me feel like I can breathe again.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!! You are so brave and lovely and articulate and strong!! Love your poem and your voice! 🙏🤗🌈❤️

“We’ve learned that quiet isnt always peace” 😭✊🏽🙏🥺

I just learned about her during my reading class and I think it's so cool that she's only 22 years old and she's doing this

She's as stunningly beautiful as her message.

Just awesome !! Maya is smiling down on her with pride * This child is a gift to our nation ☮💗🇺🇸

Amanda you inspired me to reach to the top,God blessed you,I can't stop listening.

Amanda; the most outstanding and emotional part of this whole farce of an inauguration, with flags flying as human beings.

She brought me to tears 😭. Expressing my feelings, hearing and feeling these words. Beautifully invoking what we NEED and PRAY for in these turmoiled unsettling days. She has definitely given more hope for our future 💯🌎

Wow is all I can say ! Very powerful and so wise for one so young. I know we will be seeing so much more from this glorious young women. Absolutely amazing words spoken and I feel hopeful.

Sit back close your eyes and feel every word of this amazing young lady, take it all in, listen over and over again, and then we all can understand the truth in all this lady is saying, Amanda you are a gift to the world.

Beautiful amazing young lady!! She did such a great job

I'm still crying. How wonderful...

So inspiring, touching and honest, encouragement for the task ahead and hope for our future. Well written and well done. Thank you

she is so talented!!!!

EXCELLENT POETRY...❣️ WE ARE PROUD, TREMENDOUSLY!!!!

I am blown away by this young black poet. I am just amazed and speechless. May god bless her. 🙏🙏

Simply...cathartic.

So eloquent, intelligent and a breath of fresh air. ( Psalms 8:2) I am proud of this young lady. What an honor it was to speak at such a prestigious event. May God continue to bless and elevate her to heights of success she's never imagined.

This young lady is the most impressive from all of the folks that spoke this day!

Let's hope this is not the last we see this young American. She is quite gifted.

Absolutely beautiful. Touched my heart so deeply. ❤️

what an absolutely beautiful moment. This young lady has a beautiful gift and her spoken word comforted the world today.

My heart is filled!💖

Amanda Gorman is such a educated, brave and stalwart young woman. She not only spoke, she inspired. True Queen

Well done Amanda....Such awesome speech, God bless you my dear.

This child literally presented the entire American history in few lines of her proem and also described the entire future of America in those few lines. She provided a message of hope for Americans in those few lines of her poem that would take 50 sermons preached in church to accomplish. To prove me wrong , just rewatch the video with a small dictionary next you for words research to understand word by word and its definition.

Well done well done. What a tremendously beautiful and brilliant young woman. BRAVO Although I’m a huge fan of Lopez and GaGa, In years to come,, it is this young woman I will remember and speak about to my grandchildren. I’m inspired by her grace, truth, intellect, poise and beauty.

Absolutely gorgeous way to start off a new year and a time to come together. Amanda your poem and delivery were just perfection. Thank you!

Amazing young lady!!! I hope you are president one day!! Your values and integrity are needed by our country to be there for our kids and grandkids!!👌👍💖

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. We all can be a light like Amanda if we are all willing to see it, to just be it. Blessed love Livestrong world xx

"And the norms and notions of what just is isn't always justice" - such wise words from a poised, articulate speaker. Just brilliant

What a beautiful poem

More than awesome. How heartfelt and thoughtful!

Love the way she Expresses herself 😯

Amazing, when I was her age, I was playing with my thumb. Daughter of a single mother, well done, mom. "If we merge mercy with might." Something Doncon will never understand ...

Most beautiful poem I ever heard from most beautiful young girl. Bravoooooo

Goosebumps. Beautiful.

Beautiful girl , beautiful poem . It touched my heart.

Beautiful ❤️ tears of joy and peace.

Ms. Gorman is headed to greatness with her poetry and her community activism! Shes literally what our society needs more of!

Spectacular young lady!

Black Women are EVERYTHING ♥️✨

How inspirational!

Omg what beautiful young lady and what a poem. sending this to my 11yrs old niece.

Amazing. So powerful, you can feel the fire buring in her. (and, hoping I'm not being shallow: I like the look of her, smoothely merging modern elements and some others hinting at a different continent into something captivating and powerful. I think there's a allegory somwhere in there.)

Wow! So young, so smart just hope those words are heard!❤️

Amazing!!! Totally inclusive, totally all encompassing, totally AMERICAN!!!!! Beautifully rendered from the voice of the next generation!!!!

So powerful.