Mr. President, Dr. Biden, Madam Vice President, Mr. Emhoff, Americans, and the world.
When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never ending (1)__________?
The loss we carry, a sea we must (2)______________.
We've braved the belly of the beast.
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace.
In the norms and notions of what just is, isn't always justice.
And yet the (3)____________ is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it.
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished.
We,
the successors of a country and the time where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of
becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.
And yes, we are far from polished, far from (4)______________, but that doesn't mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.
We are striving to (5)_____________ our union with purpose.
To compose a country, (6)____________ to all cultures, colours, characters, and conditions of man.
And so we lift our (7)__________, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. We seek harm to none and harmony for all.
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we (8)____________, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried
That we'll forever be tied together, victorious.
Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again (9)_________ division.
Scripture tells us to (10)____________ that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.
If we're to live up to our own time, then victory won't lie in the (11)____________, but in all the bridges we've made.
That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb, if only we dare.
It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit.
It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.
We’ve seen a force that would (12)___________ our nation rather than share it.
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
This effort very nearly succeeded.
But while democracy can be (13)_______________ delayed,
it can never be permanently defeated.
In this truth, in this faith, we trust,
for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.
This is the era of just (14)_______________.
We feared it at its (15)_______________.
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour,
but within it, we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves.
So
while once we asked, ‘How could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?’
now we (16)________, ‘How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?’
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be:
A country that is (17)______________ but whole, benevolent but (18)___________, fierce and free.
We
will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we
know our inaction and (19)____________ will be the inheritance of the next
generation.
Our (20)_______________ become their burdens.
But one thing is certain:
If we (21)______________ mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change, our children’s (22)_______________.
So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left.
With every breath from my bronze pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a (23)______________ one.
We will rise from the golden hills of the west.
We will rise from the (24)_________________ north-east where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake (25)_____________ cities of the midwestern states.
We will rise from the sun-baked south.
We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.
In every known (26)_____________ of our nation, in every corner called our country,
our people, diverse and beautiful, will emerge, (27)_______________ and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade, (28)____________ and unafraid.
The new dawn (29)___________ as we free it.
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough (30)__________.
KEY
1. shade
2. wade
wade: to walk with an effort through something, especially water or mud. E.g. Sometimes they had to wade waist-deep through mud.
brave somebody/something to have to deal with somebody/something difficult or unpleasant in order to achieve something.
- He did not feel up to braving the journalists at the airport.
- Over a thousand people braved the elements (= went outside in spite of the bad weather) to attend the march.
3. dawn
4. pristine
pristine: /ˈprɪstiːn/ fresh and clean, as if new. Immaculate. E.g. The car is in pristine condition.
5. forge
forge: create. Sp. forjar. E.g. Emily is forging a new future for herself. Emily está forjándose un nuevo futuro.
6. committed (dedicated. Sp. comprometido)
7. gaze
gaze: a long, steady look at somebody/something
- He met her gaze (= looked at her while she looked at him).
8. grieved
grieve: to feel very sad, especially because somebody has died. Sp. llorar la muerte de.
- grieve (for/over somebody/something) They are still grieving for their dead child.
9. sow
10. envision (imagine)
11. blade (sword)
glade: An open space in a wood or forest.
America would establish a glade on the hill (i.e. the difficult way) America has to climb. In other words a place of calm where each person can be him- or herself. The glade being the open space in the forest of difficulty Americans face.
12. shatter (break in pieces)
13. periodically /ˌpɪəriˈɒdɪkli/
14. redemption /rɪˈdempʃn/ the state of being freed from the power of evil.
15. inception (beginning)
16. assert
17. bruised
18. bold (brave)
19. inertia
inertia /ɪˈnɜːʃə/: lack of energy; lack of desire or ability to move or change
- I can't seem to throw off this feeling of inertia.
- the forces of institutional inertia in the school system
20. blunders
blunder: a stupid or careless mistake. Sp. metedura de pata. E.g. Tilly was humiliated by her blunder at work.
21. merge
merge /mɜːdʒ/ to combine or make two or more things combine to form a single thing. E.g.
His department will merge with mine.
22. birthright /ˈbɜːθraɪt/
23. wondrous /ˈwʌndrəs/ (wonderful)
24. windswept
windswept /ˈwɪndswept/ having strong winds and little protection from them. Sp. barrido por el viento.
- the windswept Atlantic coast
E.g. It was a wondrous thing to see the sea for the first time.
25. rimmed (Sp. bordeado)
rim something to form an edge around something.
26. nook
nook: /nʊk/ a small quiet place or corner that is sheltered or hidden from other people. Sp. rincón.
- a shady nook in the garden
- dark woods full of secret nooks and crannies
27. battered
battered /ˈbætəd/ attacked violently or repeatedly and injured. Sp. golpeado
- battered women/children
- The child had suffered what has become known as ‘battered baby syndrome.’
- She felt emotionally battered.
- The team is feeling a little battered and bruised right now.
28. aflame
aflame: /əˈfleɪm/ full of bright colours and lights. On fire. Sp. encendido, en llamas. E.g. The woods were aflame with autumn colours. The whole building was soon aflame.
29. blooms (flourish)
30. to be it
Mr. President, Dr. Biden, Madam Vice President, Mr. Emhoff, Americans, and the world.
When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never ending shade?
The loss we carry, a sea we must wade.
We've braved the belly of the beast.
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace.
In the norms and notions of what just is, isn't always justice.
And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it.
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished.
We,
the successors of a country and the time where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of
becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.
And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn't mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.
We are striving to forge our union with purpose.
To compose a country, committed to all cultures, colours, characters, and conditions of man.
And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. We seek harm to none and harmony for all.
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried
That we'll forever be tied together, victorious.
Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division.
Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.
If we're to live up to our own time, then victory won't lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we've made.That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb, if only we dare.
It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit.
It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it.
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
This effort very nearly succeeded.
But while democracy can be periodically delayed,
it can never be permanently defeated.
In this truth, in this faith, we trust,
for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.
This is the era of just redemption.
We feared it at its inception.
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour,
but within it, we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves.
So
while once we asked, ‘How could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?’
now we assert, ‘How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?’
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be:
A country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free.
We
will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we
know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next
generation.
Our blunders become their burdens.
But one thing is certain:
If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change, our children’s birthright.
So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left.
With every breath from my bronze pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
We will rise from the golden hills of the west.
We will rise from the wind-swept north-east where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states.
We will rise from the sun-baked south.
We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.
In every known nook of our nation, in every corner called our country,
our people, diverse and beautiful, will emerge, battered and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it.
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
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