PRES. OBAMA'S INAUGURATION IN VERSE (Full transcript)

One-twenty-“O”-nine
Six-layer dresses were worn.
Souls braved the long hours.

There was a throng of people in Washington D.C. They came everywhere…from coast to coast. They braved the freezing cold before a rooster crows. Many covered even their brows. They were there to witness the President’s Inauguration.

I woke up at 5 am here in California. Eyes focused on the wide-screen. I waited while sipping a piping hot black coffee in my den. I was anxious to witness the reality of the clerihew I wrote during the campaign.

Presenting to you, Barack Obama
Blah…blah…endorsed by our beloved, Oprah
African, Caucasian, Indonesian… (?)… Oh, well, American
If he’d win, the face at the oval office would historically change, man!

Mabuhay! ( Long-live!), the first “colored” US president. Like anybody else, I am proud to address you as Mr. President. Your early exposure to different culture definitely makes you a caring, keen, well-rounded person.

I am not sure if others would consider me as smart or judicious man, because I could not control myself but to drop any word qualifier and just call the 44th US President an American.

What is U.S.A?
Surely, it’s a melting pot.
Not all men are white.

It showed in the crowd. Different colors were in D.C; their behavior was very good. What I didn’t see was the color of cherry blossoms, but I know, for sure, it will pop up on the banks of the Potomac River sometime in spring.

It was announced that the President attended a church service at St. John’s. No worries! I enjoyed watching people, anyways. They patiently waited in line for the much-needed security posts. Their excitement to be part of this inaugural history overpowered the freezing cold and sneezes.

Then…

Brrmm…went the sound.
The motorcade has begun.
Lincoln sat to wait.

Blue and red beaming police bikes with sirens led the convoy. I didn’t hear the sirens on TV, but I was pretty sure they were loud to warn spectators never to try. A new black limousine was among them. Inside were the outgoing and the incoming US Presidents.

Cheering crowd? Millions!
Buntings waved! They’re like the waves.
Sea of humans…’twas!

I saw smiling faces. I saw frowning kids. They perched on their dads’ shoulders. They were there to say in the future, “I witnessed a president’s history being made.”

I saw raise-the-roof made. I heard hollers and yelps. I heard highly-charged comments. Everyone was hoping for a positive result. Everyone needs a breather amidst the world’s tumult.

Which party are you?
“I am a Republican.
Obama’s my man.”

Strangers were rubbing elbows at the north mall. They exchanged pleasantries with no sign of boundaries. Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and even the Nacionalistas from far away countries; their faces seemed to say, “Pres. Obama, you are our man, the man of celebrities and of the masses.”

And V.I.Ps’ paraded down the red-carpeted steps; Justices and the new cabinets with their spouses. The past presidents and spouses were escorted to their seats: the 39th, the 41st, the 42nd, and the 43rd. Then, I saw the 44th standing stately, waiting patiently for his name to be announced.

The new President!
People exhilarated!
Tears and cheers around.

The 44th US President walked confidently. His eyes were beaming brightly. And I whispered, “Lord, thank you for President Barack Obama. Please don’t let his speech say, ‘I will…’ Guide him to say, ‘We will…’! Please don’t let his mind swell.”

Sen. Feinstein called on Rick Warren. The prayer was so purposely driven. ‘In God we trust’ engraved in the ‘old presidents’. Sadly, more and more Americans are spiritually out of sync. Thank goodness, I saw many with clasp hands and closed eyes, but ‘Hey Caucasian lady with black and white lined scarf sitting behind the president. What’s that jeering eyes (seemingly directed) at the president for?’ Oh, well, maybe she still mad at him for choosing Warren, a stout California Prop. 8 advocate, for the opening.

Small flags waving high.
“My Country, it is of Thee.”
Color Guards unite.

Aretha Franklin sang. Lincoln sat as he listened and watched: the Grand Canyon, the Golden Bridge, the Liberty statue. Many were teary eyed hoisting their red, white, and blue. The song united their hearts as one American gang.

Justice Stevens sworn-in Vice President Biden without a flaw. Yo-Yo Ma and company serenaded with gusto.

Oh my, what happened?
It was the moment of flub.
Swearing-in faltered.

President Obama stood to be sworn-in. The beautiful Michelle was beside him holding a 5-by-8 (?) unopened red box that contained the Bible that the 16th US President had sworn-in to one hundred forty-eight years ago. But alas! The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court faltered. The new President and other V.I.P.s’ smiled. The swearing in became (as I saw it) so informal and seemingly an ordinary event. Nonetheless, the crowd was full of excitement: crying, laughing, hollering, and hoisting posters with the president’s face.

Finally, the 44th US President looked proudly as far as his eye can see; the sea of humanity standing as quiet as can be as he stood behind that bullet-proof glass-covered podium for an anxiously awaited speech.

Fellow citizens…
Let us not be faint-hearted…
Let us take the risk.

We dust ourselves off…
We’ll rebuild America…
All these we can do.

Even though there was a multitude listening in D.C., a drop of pin, I seemingly heard. Like me, the crowd didn’t care if the speech would be longer than the 2-hour speech of the 9th or be shorter than the 1-minute, 35 words of the 1st US President. Everyone’s ready to imbibe what the new President would say. Lo and behold! The speech was delivered in less than 20 minutes. Only three “Is” were heard, one of this was when he talked about his Kenyan father. Most were the inclusive “we”, “us”, and “our”.

The speech was short, but sweet. It was full of affirmation and challenges. With a charismatic, energetic, action-driven, change advocate at the helm; surely, the United States of America can successfully row itself across turbulence and huge whirlpools. We will overcome barriers and, once again, live with peaceful souls.

Do not be alarmed.
The President is human.
Give him enough time.

As people went back to their cities, those in Kogelo, Besuki, and Obama went to their respective homes, and I turned my TV off to begin work, we have to remind ourselves that our 44th US President is not a God, who has answers to all the challenges our world is facing nowadays. So, let us give him space, a little more than the normal100 days. Let us bring him to the throne of grace. He needs supreme guidance far beyond all human senses.

Now…

“Race”, we go for change.
Onward we move together.
We’ve new President.

His Excellency, Barack Hussein Obama, American, full of zest and youthfulness, the 44th and the first “Colored” US President, loving husband to Michelle and a caring father to Malia (10) and Sasha (7), a God-fearing family man, began his first day at the Oval Office with another historical re-swearing, re-administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr.

Wait! Was it in one of the offices at the basement of the White House? Anyways, this time, it was flawless.

Then, the new era in the U.S. of A has begun.

Truly, Ms. Elizabeth Alexander, this is my “Praise Song for the Day”.