In This Place (An American Lyric)

“In This Place (An American Lyric)” could fall into the category of spoken-word poetry, as Gorman’s intention was to present, or perform, the poem at the Library of Congress. While this performance-based literary form draws on the oral traditions of ancient Greece, modern spoken-word poetry arose during the Harlem Renaissance, a flourishing of Black art and culture around New York City in the 1920s. Spoken word’s rhythm-driven cadence also draws on the Beat poetry movement of the mid-20th century and the genre of the Black sermon, especially its secularized versions from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Because of this history, spoken-word pieces tend to be associated with themes related to marginalized communities, progressive political philosophy, and the inclusion of the underrepresented as full citizens.

“In This Place” features several structural elements of spoken-word poetry, including wordplay, rhyme, and repetition. The poem’s title is a repeating phrase that structures its story about America’s potential for poetry, so a listening audience can follow the poem’s movements without needing to see the written text. Like much spoken-word poetry, the poem also uses internal and end rhymes to build rising momentum, capture listener attention through euphony, and give the text the feel of a chant.