On The Pulse Of Morning Maya Angelou Analysis

“On the Pulse of Morning” was a poem that was read at Bill Clinton’s inauguration ceremony in January, 1993 by Maya Angelou which focused on the fact that human beings are more similar than they are different even though they look different. This poem is also about growth, freedom, and evolution which uses contrasting elements that appeal the eternal to measure change against history. Maya Angelou uses many metaphors that represent history’s past. For example, she starts off with “A Rock, A River, A Tree” and this represents the arrival and departure of many generations before her. Society begins with the Rock letting people know that they can stand on it, but should not hide their face. The allusion this segment brings is that people need to understand that they are going to
When people come to the river side it will sing the songs provided from the creator which will create a sense of unity and peace. The tree will then speak to humankind telling them to come here and plant themselves beside it. When humans plant themselves, the Tree lets each person know that they are a “descendant of some passed on traveler that has been paid for.” This explains how humans are paid in the blood of our ancestors, animals, plants, and humans including the passage paid by immigrants to come to the Americas being redeemed by the blood of Christ. The Tree also makes the announcement that humanity can look forward towards the future of peace and all connections from the past including brutality and hatred will be disconnected. In the end, Maya Angelou speaks on grace saying that everyone has the ability to share this grace with the people around them, and people should either share with a friend or foe. This demonstrates how grace becomes a bearing fruit somehow having connection to the Tree and was planted there by the streams of water from earlier