Latino Inauguration Poet Discusses Impact of Inaugural Reading

By Dorie Baker, Yale News

Is the inaugural poem a new sub-genre of poetry? According to two practitioners of the form, the answer might be “yes.”

Poet Richard Blanco and Yale professor Elizabeth Alexander, two of only five poets in history to have created works for a presidential inauguration, came together on Feb. 5 for a poetry reading and dialogue about their unique shared experience. Blanco read his work “One Today” at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, while Alexander read her “Praise Song for the Day” at Obama’s first. Their discussion was hosted by Ezra Stiles College master Stephen Pitti.

Before a packed audience of faculty, students, and New Haven residents, Blanco read three poems that he described as “ancestors” to his inaugural poem.

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