THE HILL WE CLIMB An Inaugural Poem for the Country

"The Hill We Climb" is a balm and a benediction for a country wracked with strife, trauma, outrage, and grief. Oprah Winfrey's introduction invites listeners to reflect on the circumstances surrounding this 2021 inaugural poem and on the brilliance of its writer. Gorman's performance shines. She encourages listeners to meditate on the various legacies of white supremacy that threaten us to this day. Her reading evokes the necessary urgency, calling listeners to face the fact that "our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation." At the same time, the brightness of Gorman's cadence reminds listeners that "there is always light--if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it." G.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2021]