Fourth inaugural poet reads for Obama

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Elizabeth Alexander, who recited the inaugural poem at President Barack Obama's inauguration, is a poet with deep roots in government.

Alexander read a poem titled "Praise song for the day" and written for the occasion. The poem echoed some of the themes of Obama's inauguration speech:

"Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

"Some live by 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.'

"Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need."

Alexander, 46, grew up in Washington, where her father, Clifford Alexander Jr. was the first black secretary of the Army and later chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Her brother, Mark, served on Obama's transition team.

She was the fourth poet to read at an inauguration, after Robert Frost at John F. Kennedy's in 1961 and Maya Angelou and Miller Williams at William Clinton's two inaugurations. Frost, who was 87 in 1961, was unable to see to read the poem he had written for the ceremony because of the wind and bitter cold and instead recited "The Gift Outright," a poem he had written many years earlier.