One of the most moving and notable moments of Wednesday's inauguration of the Biden-Harris administration came at the hands of American poet Amanda Gorman. Gorman took the stage after Biden's inaugural address to perform "The Hill We Climb," and according to NPR (opens in new tab), she was inspired to finish her speech after watching the events unfold on Capitol Hill on January 6.

At 23, Gorman is the youngest inaugural address poet in history. Biden stuttered and Gorman had difficulty pronouncing certain letters and words (opens in new tab).

On this occasion, the Los Angeles native wore a radiant Prada double-breasted coat over a white poplin shirt and black leather pencil skirt. She accessorized with a red satin headband and jewelry given to her by Oprah Winfrey (open in new tab).

Read the full transcript of Gorman's "The Hill We Climb":

Mr. President, Dr. Biden, Mr. Vice President, Mr. Emhoff, the American people, and the people of the world, the day will come when we ask ourselves where we can find light in this endless shade. We have walked bravely in the belly of the beast. We have learned that tranquility is not necessarily peace. That the norms and notions of what is just are not always just. And yet, the dawn has somehow become ours. Somehow we have made it. It is not broken; it is simply incomplete. We are heirs to a nation and an era in which a skinny black girl, descended from slaves and raised by a single mother, can dream of being president.

And yes, we are far from sophisticated and far from pristine. We are striving to build alliances with purpose. To constitute a nation committed to all cultures, skin colors, personalities, and human circumstances. In so doing, we turn our gaze not to what stands between us, but to what stands before us. For we know that in order to put our future first, we must first put aside our differences. We do no harm to anyone and seek harmony for the good of all. At all costs, let us tell this earth that it is true. Though grieved, we have grown. Though hurt, we held out hope. Though we were weary, we strove, we triumphed, and we will be united forever. Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow the seeds of division.

The Bible tells us to envision everyone sitting under their own vine and fig tree, and no one will make them afraid. If we are to live in her own time, the victory is not in the blade, but in every bridge we build. That is the promise of glory, the hill we can climb if we only have the courage. For being American is more than a pride we inherit. It is the past we step into and how we repair it. We have seen a forest that would rather shatter our country than share it. They will destroy our country if it means slowing down democracy. And this effort almost succeeded.

But while we can delay democracy periodically, we can never defeat it permanently. For while we look to the future, history looks to us. Now is the time for a just redemption. We have feared its beginning. We did not feel ready to be heirs to such a terrible time, but in the midst of it we found the strength to write a new chapter, to offer ourselves hope and laughter.

We will not return to what we once were, but we will move forward to become a wounded but perfect, merciful but bold, fierce and free nation. Because we know that our inaction and inertia will be passed on to the next generation. Our inaction will be their burden. But one thing is certain. If we merge compassion with power, power with righteousness, love will become our legacy and transform the birthright of our children.

So let us leave behind a better country than the one we left behind. With every breath I draw from my bronze chest, we will elevate this wounded world to something wonderful. We shall rise from the golden hills of the West. We will rise from the windswept Northeast, where our forefathers first achieved revolution. We shall rise from the ringed cities of the Midwestern states. We will rise from the sun-baked South. We will rebuild, reconcile, and restore in every known place of our land, in every corner of our land called home. When the day comes, we will step undaunted from the shade of the flames. A new dawn will blossom as we set free. For the light is always there. If only we dare to see it. If only we have the courage to become it.

Readings of Gorman's poetry are available at:

And pre-order Gorman's lyrical picture book, Change Sings, here (opens in a new tab)