Masha Gessen writes about the vision of democracy expressed by the poet Amanda Gorman in her poem “The Hill We Climb,” which she delivered at President Joe Biden’s Inauguration, on January ...

Amanda Gorman, the first U.S. national youth poet laureate, recited a new poem at the Democratic National Convention. Her new work focused on themes of democracy and unity to support Vice ...

Poetry pulses through the veins of American heritage, shaping our nation's conscience and collective voice. In the 19th century, Walt Whitman recognized that both poetry and democracy derive their ...

‘Democracy Poem #1,’ by June Jordan: American Life in Poetry Published: Apr. 26, 2021, 12:00 p.m. Voters wait in line to cast early ballots in October 2020 in Philadelphia.

When Walt Whitman began conceiving his great volume of poetry, “Leaves of Grass,” in the 1850s, American democracy was in serious danger over the issue of slavery. As we celebrate National ...

The Washington Monthly is an independent voice, listened to by insiders and willing to take on sacred cows—liberal and conservative. And we need your support. The poem that inspired the song, America ...

Plus George Packer on the American century’s end, Kamala Harris takes her shot, Walt Whitman and democracy, Trump’s second term, the poetry of sportswriters, yet another George Bush, and more.

That memorable appearance made Gorman the youngest inaugural poet in American history. Gorman's poem "The Hill We Climb," and its message of unity in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol ...

Her books of poetry rocketed to the top spots on Amazon's bestseller lists, and overnight, Gorman became a literary celebrity. Read a transcript of Gorman's 2024 DNC poem below.