{"id":7473,"date":"2026-01-29T09:13:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T09:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=7473"},"modified":"2026-01-29T09:14:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T09:14:36","slug":"breaking-national-youth-poet-laureate-amanda-gormans-powerful-new-poem-for-alex-jeffrey-pretti-has-become-a-viral-artistic-response-to-the-outrage-sweeping-the-nation-after","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/?p=7473","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman\u2019s powerful new poem \u201cFor Alex Jeffrey Pretti\u201d has become a viral artistic response to the outrage sweeping the nation after the deadly shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents \u2014 a piece of verse that is now spreading widely on social media with video shares, reactions, and emotional commentary.  In the video posted alongside her poem on Instagram and social platforms, Gorman stands before the camera and reads lines that have struck a deep chord with thousands of viewers online. \u201cWe wake with \/ no words, just woe &#038; wound,\u201d the poem begins, a stark image of collective grief and shock shared by many after the Minneapolis incident.  Gorman frames Pretti\u2019s death not simply as a tragedy but as a \u201cjarring betrayal\u201d \u2014 reflecting a theme of broken trust in institutions meant to protect citizens. Her words have become a focal point of online discussion, with the video of her recitation being reshared across TikTok, Instagram reels, and Twitter\/X, often with captions like \u201cThis is exactly what we feel\u201d and \u201cHer voice gives words to millions.\u201d&#8230; The full text of her message and her spoken performance can be found in the comments below \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIf we cannot find the words, may we find the will,\u201d Amanda Gorman wrote in a new poem honoring Alex Pretti amidst ICE protests.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Throughout history, the arts have been one of the many ways communities have archived historical moments. As the country continues to navigate unprecedented times, Amanda Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate, is using her creative voice to memorialize the lives lost and to reflect the growing national sentiment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Over the weekend, Gorman shared a new poem entitled \u201cFor Alex Jeffrey Pretti,\u201d on social media in honor of the 37-year-old ICU nurse who was fatally shot by ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 24.<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<p><iframe id=\"instagram-embed-0\" class=\"instagram-media instagram-media-rendered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DT8OwTxjSbm\/embed\/captioned\/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsngay.com&amp;rp=%2Fngocquynhlt%2Fbreaking-national-youth-poet-laureate-amanda-gormans-powerful-new-poem-for-alex-jeffrey-pretti-has-become-a-viral-artistic-response-to-the-outrage-sweeping-the-nation-after%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xj#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2329.899999976158%2C%22ls%22%3A1405.8999999761581%2C%22le%22%3A2314.899999976158%7D\" height=\"869\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-instgrm-payload-id=\"instagram-media-payload-0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe wake with\/no words, just woe\/&amp;wound. Our own country shoot\/ing us in the back is not just brutal\/ity; it\u2019s jarring betrayal; not enforcement\/ but execution,\u201d Gorman\u2019s poem begins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This is not the first time Gorman has used the power of prose to reflect on socio-political issues. Earlier this month, the poet shared a piece honoring Renee Nicole Good, a fellow poet, a mother of three, a wife, and an unfortunate victim of ICE\u2019s fatal brutality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI am horrified by the ongoing violence that ICE wages upon our community. Across our country, we are witnessing discrimination and brutality on an unconscionable scale,\u201d she wrote at the time. \u201cWe remember and mourn not only Renee, but all those ICE has killed, including Silverio Villegas Gonzalez and Keith Porter, who were also shot by ICE. We also remember the 32 individuals who died in ICE custody last year, with 2025 marking the deadliest year in ICE\u2019s history in over two decades.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"instagram-embed-1\" class=\"instagram-media instagram-media-rendered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DTRUvN1j5ST\/embed\/captioned\/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsngay.com&amp;rp=%2Fngocquynhlt%2Fbreaking-national-youth-poet-laureate-amanda-gormans-powerful-new-poem-for-alex-jeffrey-pretti-has-become-a-viral-artistic-response-to-the-outrage-sweeping-the-nation-after%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xj#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A2335.5%2C%22ls%22%3A1405.8999999761581%2C%22le%22%3A2314.899999976158%7D\" height=\"1365\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-instgrm-payload-id=\"instagram-media-payload-1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nearly two weeks later, Gorman, like many Americans, is reflecting on the same brutality in the wake of Pretti\u2019s death. While some social media users tried to criticize Gorman\u2019s stylistic choices in her latest poem, the poet and author wasted no time addressing her critics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Five years ago, Gorman moved audiences during President Joe Biden\u2019s inauguration with her poem \u201cThe Hill We Climb.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"max-md:faux-bleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<p>Five years ago, Gorman moved audiences during President Joe Biden\u2019s inauguration with her poem \u201cThe Hill We Climb.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was blown away by how my words reverberated around the world; if anything, it proved to me that we honor King\u2019s dream, by daring to dream big, and by, most importantly, daring to dream together,\u201d she wrote on Instagram last year, honoring the four-year anniversary. \u201cOnly then will the loving fantasies of our better nature transform into reality. Live today, and the days to come, as a promise: the work and fight for the dream persists, and what\u2019s more, it is not just a fight, but fate\u2014that perhaps we are as destined for this time as it is destined for us. What a worthwhile, powerful calling only we can answer. Here with you in the hill and the climb, and whatever light lies beyond, whatever light lies within.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI was blown away by how my words reverberated around the world; if anything, it proved to me that we honor King\u2019s dream, by daring to dream big, and by, most importantly, daring to dream together,\u201d she wrote on Instagram last year, honoring the four-year anniversary. \u201cOnly then will the loving fantasies of our better nature transform into reality. Live today, and the days to come, as a promise: the work and fight for the dream persists, and what\u2019s more, it is not just a fight, but fate\u2014that perhaps we are as destined for this time as it is destined for us. What a worthwhile, powerful calling only we can answer. Here with you in the hill and the climb, and whatever light lies beyond, whatever light lies within.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"instagram-embed-2\" class=\"instagram-media instagram-media-rendered\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DFDtGZFSKBV\/embed\/captioned\/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsngay.com&amp;rp=%2Fngocquynhlt%2Fbreaking-national-youth-poet-laureate-amanda-gormans-powerful-new-poem-for-alex-jeffrey-pretti-has-become-a-viral-artistic-response-to-the-outrage-sweeping-the-nation-after%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xj#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A2339.800000011921%2C%22ls%22%3A1405.8999999761581%2C%22le%22%3A2314.899999976158%7D\" height=\"904\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-instgrm-payload-id=\"instagram-media-payload-2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cIf we cannot find the words, may we find the will,\u201d Amanda Gorman wrote in a new poem honoring Alex Pretti amidst ICE protests. Throughout history, the&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7477,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7473"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7476,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7473\/revisions\/7476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grow48.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}