One Today

A New Tomorrow America is a land full of opportunity and freedom. People seek to live out their dreams when moving to this beautiful country and that is exactly what Richard Blanco did as he read his poem, “One Today,” for president Obama’s second inauguration. Blanco was the first Cuban-American that was an openly gay poet presenting his text infront of the whole nation. His poem takes us through a day in the life of an American from sunrise to sunset, incorporating our similar daily experiences into his poem. It exposes America’s geographical features, different cities, scenery and the tragedies that we have all experienced as a nation together. He is trying to make a point that we are all united and whole. Whether it be exposed to “one light,” or look up to “one sky,” regardless of our roots, the message that he is portraying in his poem is that we are all equal. This poem specifically opens a new door for our nation and reminds us of our roots, as we re-elect our African American president. The American people would not normally expect a gay Latino to present his poem at the presidents inauguration and that is the beauty of it. Granted the opportunity to write a poem for this occasion, Blanco went above and beyond gracefully telling us a story. This poem explains that no matter where we are, what story we have to tell, which coast we subside in, that we are all united. We all live under the same sky so background, race, and orientation should not matter. Blanco brings up how his family was part of the working class, “hands as worn as my father’s cutting sugarcane so my brother and I could have books and shoes” (p, 4). This line stood out to me because he is touching on a more personal experience explaining that his parents worked hard for him to get where he is right now which is essentially the American dream. Foreigners from all around the world come here and work hard for a brighter future. Blanco’s background makes a statement just as much as the poem because of his background and sexual orientation. At the time, gay marriage was an on going battle and his poem is preaching about equality for all with a more subtle hint to it. This poem America as a country has come a long way, has been open and innovative with their ideas and always updated with their customs but nonetheless, this poem shapes us into the country we want to be. Maintaining a positive vibe and beautiful imagery throughout the poem was not hard for Blanco but he touched a deeper subject gracefully reminding us of some of the hard times we have been through as a nation, “the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won’t explain the empty desks of twenty children marked absent today, and forever,” (p, 3) which is about the recent shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. Bringing up the good times as well as the bad, reminds us that as a nation, we have all stuck together through it all. This text captures what it is like to be an American and that we are a nation about change and freedom because he mentions Martin Luther’s “I have a Dream,” speech which is now coming true. This is the perfect poem to be read as we elect our African American president for his second term because we are making history every step we take. It is a big deal that a man with that kind of background had the courage to stand up infront of the whole nation reading his beautiful poem. At the same time, being accepted and applauded for his generous words, and going back to the thought that humans are humans regardless of their background and decisions. Having this poem read is a step in the right direction because it opens opportunities for others to strive to be in that position in a fear that they will not be accepted.