Bookworm
Elizabeth Alexander
Praise Song for the Day: A Poem for Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration (Graywolf); American Sublime (Graywolf) When Elizabeth Alexander presented Barack Obama's inaugural poem, few of us had considered that in the history of the United States there had been only three previous inaugural poets...
By Michael Silverblatt • • 28m Listen: A Poem for Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration
(Graywolf);
(Graywolf)
When Elizabeth Alexander presented Barack Obama's inaugural poem, few of us had considered that in the history of the United States there had been only three previous inaugural poets. What is an inaugural poem? To whom does it speak? For whom should it speak? Where does this poem fit in the context of Alexander's life and poetry?