Inauguration Day & Poetry
The inauguration of Barack H. Obama as the 44th President of United States has been said to inspire more music, more poetry, more dance-and yes, hope-than any other presidential campaign in memory. Most memorable may be inaugural poet Elizabeth Alexander's Praise Song for the Day: A Poem for Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration. It will be recorded in history as a message of hope, love and the memory of sacrifice.

There also will be untold words and notes of others - of uncelebrated writers, composers, dancers. Inspired by Obama's historic election, everyday people throughout the country pen heartfelt words of new hope and change. One such expression of excitement-and encouragement-of hope, may be seen in the inaugural verse Change, written by eight inmates at York Correctional Institution in Niantic, Connecticut, as part of a writing workshop. January 20, 2009, a simple verse of anticipation, was written by the workshop leader, Mary O'Connor.

> Read "Obama's Election Gives These Prisoners Hope," which appeared in The Day
> Read Change
> Read January 20, 2009
Obama's Election Gives These Prisoners Hope
By Mike Naughton, Published by The Day, 1/18/2009
 
 
York Correctional Institution inmates, from left, Madyson, Shaquima, Sandra, Heather, Chinna, Monica, Barbara and Deanna wrote their own inaugural poem, Change, reflecting their hope for the country and the world under the leadership of the new United States President, Barack H. Obama. (Photo by Tim Cook)
 

Sitting in the visitation room of the York Correctional Institution, Barbara Graham smiled broadly when asked what Tuesday's inauguration will mean to her.

"The night of his (victory) speech in Chicago," she said, "I was looking at the crowd of people ... I looked at them and they had so much hope. It made me think that when I get out of here, I know what I can make happen. Every day in here is a day for change."

Graham is one of eight inmates at the state's only women's prison who crafted a poem titled "Change" in honor of the country's next president.

The women worked together on the poem for one of their poetry workshops at York taught by Mary O'Connor of Old Lyme. They each wrote a sentence or phrase and combined the parts.

"It was a good, productive experience in writing and it also gave an opportunity for them to express their hope for Obama," O'Connor said.

Because the women were incarcerated during the election and will be during the inauguration, the poem, O'Connor said, was a way for some of them to feel more connected to the historic moment.

"When this happens Tuesday," Graham said, "I'll have a picture of him out ... and I'll write my goals down and start preparing steps to reach those goals."
 

Change

Prosperity to fulfill
a purpose in life.
Peace and love
envelope our minds
and hearts.
Let's spill it out
across the nation
for everyone to endure
as sunflowers do
with their seeds.
We are off to a new
start and a new beginning,
a new day for change.
It has come-we never
thought this could be.
History in the making.
Like the wise
must learn,
let's keep hope
alive.
 

January 20, 2009
Mary O'Connor

We awake, this day,
to an air of change
across the land.
Let it light our eyes,
open our souls
to a new way
of being, wrapping us
not in darkness, in strife,
but in expectations
of tranquility rooted
deeper than the sleeping
daffodils, just waking
from their worn out
crust of cold, just waiting,
one might think, to unfold
their golden hope, saying
welcome-welcome to all
who hold their same
simple dignity. Hail to all
who fly high, ride
the wings of doves
and spread the healing
dust of accord,
of dialogue,
of peace.