'the hill we climb'

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.


Amanda Gorman, "The Hill We Climb," a poem for the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, 1/20/2021.