In 1993, because my parents were supporters of Anna Eshoo, I was able to use a ticket to go to DC and watch Clinton being sworn in. I went with a college roommate, whose father worked in the Kennedy administration, who knew which tunnels would get us to the best places on the lawn in front of the US Capitol.
I remember being impressed with Maya Angelou’s speech. I thought “mark, the mastodon” was addressed to me. 
I was an English major and later, and for the ensuing 26 years, and currently, work in the arts, so I think poetry can have magic powers, like Prospero putting a spell on Ariel.
Even I admit, however, that Democracy requires more work than just the right words at a ceremony – -I’m paraphrasing George Packer and referencing his 2012 book “The Unwinding”.
Yet as a concert promoter I felt a connection to the artists who were part of this recent big day: Jennifer Lopez, Katie Perry, Garth Brooks, Lady Gaga. I noted that all of them have been at this less time than I have (although on the other hand, we still do not have a Gen X president, or someone born, like me, post-Kennedy).
My dream of America will be realized when Molly Tuttle of Palo Alto sings at an inaugural her version of Jerry Garcia’s “Standing on The Moon”…

(put to Diana Diamond column on PAW — note, they habitually censor and delete me; Diane called a previous post of mine “bombast”

edit to add: I posted a version of this on Molly’s youtube plus “work that, America”