Praise Song for the Day – Interpretation

approbation Song For The Day November 26, 2012 This numbers, Praise Song for the Day by Elizabeth Alexander, is mavin of the most memorable rimes that have been recited within the last 20 years. Immediately after President Obama was sworn into killice, Elizabeth Alexander recited her poem to the stack that had gathered on that cold winter day in January. The tack on is full of symbolism, with the tone being hopeful, inspiring and thankful.The poem begins with a explanation of daily life which is filled with the daily grind of hard running(a) individuals, often doing the work that drives this great nation of ourssmall businesses, blue-collar laborers, goodly professions such as teaching. The possibility of coming together as a people in spite of our differences is expressed in terms of our linguistic communication (spiny or smooth oral communication to consider, reconsider). From pass on to words to concrete results (e. g. , highways), we interact with each oppositepast a nd present.The boundary of a highway whitethorn ginger up someone today to go barely and see what else is possible, keeping hopeful aspirations alive by see(ing) whats on the other side. At the same time that we fear the uncertainties of the future (which in addition divides us), we screw envision it in terms of its possibilities (We need to find a place where we are safe We walk into that which we cannot to date see). I think she is trying to say that we should also honor the sacrifices of poor, immigrant laborers of the past who do our present reality possible as well as the modern font immigrant laborers who continue to build upon the dreams of their ancestors. Say it plain, that m any(prenominal) have died for this day. Sing the names of the nonviable who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, build brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work at bottom of) The resolution of confl icts between people has many routes. For families it may be pass judgment it out at kitchen tables while other conflicts require political movements, struggle, and protest. This poem is a song of praise for such peaceful resolutions and for this historical initiative day which would not have been possible without the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.The religious belief systems of different peoples that allow us to get along with other peoples differ in degree. The poem presents an even stronger concept of love that goes beyond Love thy neighbor as thy self, and even beyond marital, filial, national. near believe the way to unity is to avoid being selfish, not pain sensation others, and treating others as you would your compatriots, your kin, or yourself. This poem suggests there is a love that extends beyond those whom we are familiar with to include a siding pool of light. Finally, in relation to the present day, there is a sense of the immense possibilities (anything can be made, any sentence begun). This is contained in the words that may inspire others to action that may bring such a love juxtaposed toward reality. From disunity ( walk of life past each other) to blindly walking into that which we cannot yet see, this poem now suggests the alternative of go forward in that light channelise by a new vision of a love that may unite us. I focused on the symbolic element of the poem, because I liked the presentation and how it flowed.It made me think about how far weve follow in this country. I believe that Elizabeth draws the reader into the poem just I was drawn, by suggesting that we as a nation that was literally built off the labor of slave labor and indentured servants, has evolved into a country that elected its starting African-American President. Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others eyeball or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. soulfulness is stitching up a hem, darning a quite a little in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair. Someone is trying to make music somewhere, with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum, with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice. A woman and her son wait for the bus. A farmer considers the changing sky. A teacher says, Take out your pencils. Begin. We get together each other in words, words spiny or smooth, utter or declaimed, words to consider, reconsider. We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of some one and then others, who saidI need to see whats on the other side. I know theres something better low-spirited the road. We need to find a place where we are safe. We walk into that which we cannot yet see. Say it plain that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built bric k by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of. Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign, the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables.Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself, others by first do no harm or take no much than you need. What if the mightiest word is love? Love beyond marital, filial, national, love that casts a widening pool of light, love with no need to pre-empt grievance. In todays sharp sparkle, this winter air, any thing can be made, any sentence begun. On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp, praise song for walking forward in that light. Alexander, E. (2009, Feb). Retrieved Nov 26, 2012, from Poetry Foundation. org http//www. poetryfoundation. org/poem/244896