I chose to explore the poet Amanda Gorman because I was initially inspired by her speech at the 2020 Presidential Inauguration. This opportunity to explore poetry prompted me to learn more about her recent work as a writer and activist. As a student, learning about her organization, One Pen One Page, was very inspirational. Over the past years as an English student, I have watched myself grow. I became more open minded to new texts, and read memoirs about new stories. These experiences helped me to become a stronger critical thinker. Seeing her support towards young writers who lack opportunities of growth prompted me to hear her voice through her poetry.

Once we stepped into our home,
We found ourselves gasping, tear-
ing it off like a bandage,
Like something that gauzed
The great gape of our mouth.

"To bring volume to those who are using their voice"

This line from We Rise by Amanda Gorman emphasizes that using your voice does not always result in change to follow. Various communities are using their voices, but they are not heard by society. Today’s society mostly focuses on existing voices in the media, lacking attention to amplify voices that are left in the dark. There may be a perception that silence from a community means there are no concerns. In reality, the voices of these communities are left unheard.  

The title of the poem I am exploring is Aborescent 1. I was immediately drawn to the title because I had never heard of "Aborescent" before. When reading the poem, it was more challenging to comprehend it. However, after researching the meaning of the title, I was able to connect lines in the poem to the title. By definition, Aborescent means “resembling a tree in properties, growth, structure, or appearance”. In the poem, the unseen aspects of a human are compared to the hidden roots of a tree. Though I am not very familiar with analyzing poetry, one of the messages I picked up on was that the experiences we face in our lives, keep us grounded.

There’s a poem in Los Angeles

yawning wide as the Pacific tide

where a single mother swelters

in a windowless classroom, teaching

black and brown students in Watts

to spell out their thoughts

so her daughter might write

this poem for you.  

• I gathered that this passage reflects Amanda Gorman's upbringing.

• Though they are living in an underprivileged community, Gorman's mother still believes in the importance of education for her daughter and students --> she understands literacy will lead to a better future

• Even though Gorman's mother lacked more "basic" necessities such as a shelter with windows, she still prioritized education despite these obstacles.

I gathered that Gorman's main audience is the younger generations. This is visible when she refers to her audience as “The daughter of a dying world.” Her reference to a "dying world" implies that the world has changed in a negative way. Gorman also says “our future needs us” conveying that this young generation are the ones responsible for saving the world from dying. The line “We've failed [planet Earth]” leaves the audience feeling fearful and guilty. Furthermore, motivating them to take action against the urgent issue of climate change.