When I was a child
sitting at my mother’s knee
she would tell me
(with shining eyes)
about a time of hope
a time of JFK and RFK and MLK
and Civil Rights marches
This is the hope for change
she had when she was young
and starting her life as an adult
When I was young and starting out
I got Ronald Reagan
which didn’t give me a lot of hope
for change or anything else
It was not until a couple of years ago
that I began to feel my hope
A hope that was tiny and faint
(the kind of hope that follows
years of despair)
Today I see a dream fulfilled
the hope of a nation
CHANGE—I cannot say it often or loudly enough
I do not tire of the words HOPE and CHANGE
They do not become cliché
Someday my son, just 18,
and my daughter, 23,
will tell the children
sitting at their knees
(with shining eyes)
about a time of hope
a time of Barack Obama
and the fight for Civil Rights for gays
This is the hope they have for change
as they are young
and starting theirs lives as adults.
Lovely. I can hardly believe our good fortune to live in these times, you know? Even a few months ago I would have called it bad fortune.
Posted by: Nora | January 20, 2009 at 12:26 AM
Hope = assasination in their cases. And don't forget Harvey Milk. I was around for all of them and the tragedies that followed this "hope" broke our nation.
Hope is too big a word for government, which never changes.
Posted by: Suzy | January 20, 2009 at 01:27 AM
Some of the folks I work with said...you want to watch the inauguration? Why? I replied if you have to ask that question, you'll never understand my answer (and inside I thought to myself how sorry I felt for them that they've become so cynical they can't feel hope).
Posted by: Janet | January 20, 2009 at 06:32 AM
I just commented to someone else as to how hope is such an amazing thing. Obama's charisma and intellect, combined with such humility and calm demeanor will come together to a make him, most likely, one of the most amazing leaders we have ever known.
Posted by: Belle (from Life of a...) | January 20, 2009 at 06:42 AM
I'm sorry you can't be there today. The energy & excitement is incredible (although taking my gloves off at 7:30am to take pictures = fingers so cold they hurt after only 3 minutes).
Posted by: kcinnova | January 20, 2009 at 07:49 AM
Yay! I have hope, and I have inspiration to keep looking for ways that I can be a part of the good changes this country makes. I hope everyone will keep their eyes open and recognize their opportunities, big or small, local or far-reaching, as they present themselves. Today is going to be a great day!
Posted by: blognut | January 20, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Wonderful. I'm keeping my 8 year old home from school today so we can watch it together. He doesn't get the big significance of it, but I hope someday he'll remember.
hope*hope*hope*hope*hope
Posted by: Alesia | January 20, 2009 at 08:14 AM
Lucky, lucky us!
Posted by: green girl | January 20, 2009 at 12:51 PM
"They do not become cliché."
THANK YOU.
Posted by: notjustbarbra | January 20, 2009 at 01:08 PM
There's an old man that sits on the corner near us with a cardboard sign that just says "change." I know he just means money, but it gets me every time.
Posted by: Memarie Lane | January 20, 2009 at 04:02 PM
My daughter is only 5 and I wish she could understand what today really means but what is most important is that it happened in her lifetime and she'll know eventually how much her life will be altered for the better down the road
Posted by: Jessica Bern | January 20, 2009 at 04:10 PM
Amen. That was beautiful. My 16 year-old mentioned to me that one day she would be able to tell her kids about today. And I told her that I hoped that her kids would wonder why electing a Black man was such a big deal.
Posted by: Shelley | January 20, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Wonderful words and so true! As I was taking my son (16) to school today he said "I'm so glad to be living through this time in our history." It warmed my heart.
Posted by: imom | January 20, 2009 at 07:31 PM
Ooooo, I love it when you write stories and craft poems and stuff.
Awesome. I love the (with shining eyes) especially.
Posted by: San Diego Momma | January 20, 2009 at 11:19 PM
It's wonderful that our kids and our future grandkids will take for granted what happened on this momentous day. Hooray for progress and for change!
Posted by: phd in yogurtry | January 20, 2009 at 11:40 PM
I love this! Amen to hope.
My kids really were into watching the inauguration! And they really got into the speech! Most of them are ELL students so it was particularly powerful to watch!
Posted by: she | January 21, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Poignant, ringing, so full of lightness. Thank you.
Posted by: stephanie (bad mom) | January 21, 2009 at 01:46 AM
Loved his inaugural address. We could use some hope right about now!
Posted by: The Mom Bomb | January 21, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Beautiful J!
Posted by: mrs. g. | January 21, 2009 at 07:32 PM
Wonderful! Bittersweet that your mom can't see this, but maybe she can...
What an exciting time to grow up with President Obama!
Posted by: JCK | January 22, 2009 at 02:02 AM
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful
Posted by: CC | January 22, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Ooh. So, so good.
Posted by: Just Jamie | January 24, 2009 at 06:44 PM
EXACTLY.
Posted by: Irish Goddess | January 25, 2009 at 12:50 AM