The idea that you could write a poem with the power to drastically change the world is one that every poet flirts with at least once in their writing life. I know some who think about it every time they put words on paper, some who try to forget the power of what they’re doing at any cost. Two platforms on which a contemporary poet could receive fame and some literary credential is by being chosen as the U.S. poet laureate or to write and read a poem for the inauguration of a U.S. president. The tradition of having a poet read at the inauguration began in 1961 when John F. Kennedy invited Robert Frost (the “Two roads diverge in a yellow woods” dude). Since then, there have been four other instances when poets have been allowed within a couple feet of a President, which is usually not advised for either party. Being a writer with political affiliations can isolate an audience, make it difficult to reach everyone. A politician with poetic affiliations could be considered pretentious, maybe even worse: a promoter of the arts.
The election for the next U.S. president is in a couple of months and conversations have already begun within the writing community whether or not the new president will invite a poet to their inauguration. In a recent article, Dean Rader asked some contemporary poets if they would read at Donald Trump’s inauguration if they were invited. This scenario is nearly impossible for many reasons, especially due to the fact that out of the five times poets have been invited all of them were for Democratic presidents. But maybe Trump would want to change this trend and change a poet’s career forever. Most poets responded to Rader negatively because they would be forever affiliated with Trump and his beliefs. Yet, there is still something enticing about having that opportunity.
I’ve been thinking about what my own response would be if the Trump administration approached me about being the inaugural poet. Once again an impossibility because Trump would never invite a queer poet of color, yet he’s not exactly known for making logical decisions. If I were invited, I wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. I’d be joining the ranks of Frost and Angelou, while getting the opportunity to have an audience I would never expect of reaching. While some would ostracize and shun me, I would still be the one forever standing in pictures next to our first orange president. With a couple months to go here is a rough draft of the poem I’ll be reading next January 20th.
swinging by one last time
peeling an orange
by a pool chlorine
and citrus bring
out the mean in
me still the best
way to see is
through a mirror
one day they will
all be broken shards
and we will hold
bloody hands because
grey is the color
we all hold
inside
Like I said, it’s a rough draft. Took me about a minute to write so it may be helpful to think about it some more, but who cares? No one is going to be listening during that inaugural address because they will either be screaming in joy or in fear. Let the yelling ensue with some poetry, because at least one person will listen. Those words are not world changing, no words are. It is the moment that truly defines them forever.
