The Role of the Past

"Oh History and Hope" begins with the assertion that the audience has "memorized America" (1). It goes on to explain that, through songs and traditions, people have grown familiar with how America was born and how it has changed over time. This opening is not dissimilar to how most inaugural poems are structured: typically, inauguration poems attempt to look at America's past while encouraging audiences to build a better future for the next generations. Williams begins on this note of reflection, thinking about American history and how it has become engrained in the minds of ordinary citizens. However, Williams offers a somewhat new take on the role of history in present society. That he chooses to describe people's relationship to American history as "memorization" is significant because it suggests repetition, rote learning, and a more detached, purely educational perspective.

It is this kind...