on language

"We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider."

Those words hit me today, during Elizabeth Alexander's inauguration poem. Alexander has already gotten flak for the poem, apparently it wasn't enough of a showstopper, but I liked it a lot.

The cool thing about poetry is that it can encapsulate a moment, sometimes better than a picture. Much of the hype about Obama has been about his language and his word choice. Clearly he is an excellent speaker, but he's also a strong writer, and, as I learned today, a pretty good poet. Using the right words at the right time, and knowing how they will affect people, and inspire them has been one of Obama's most visible talents so far.

Today at the inauguration he was subdude. He talked about challanges and he talked about plans. He didn't use the openended campaign language of "hope" and "change."

His words have power. They make people consider and reconsider. That is why I think Alexander nailed it, and that is why(in part) I am excited for the next 4 years