‘New York City’ by Ramya Ramana

The Aerogram is an online magazine that shares with its readers a variety of South Asian stories and perspectives.

It’s produced in North America, and was founded by multimedia journalist and writer, Lakshmi Gandhi (@lakshmigandhi); editor and writer, Pavani Yalamanchili (@_pavani); and former copywriter and social media coordinator, Kishwer Vikaas (@phillygrrl), who now works at a public interest law firm. Writer Rohin Guha is a contributing editor.

Earlier this month they shared on Twitter this incredible poetry performance by Ramya Ramana (@Ramyaramana). Ramya is New York’s 2014 Youth Poet Laureate. She was asked to speak at the inauguration of New York’s new mayor, Bill de Blasio, who was sworn into office on 1 January 2014.

Here’s Ramya performing her poem, ‘New York City’, which she wrote for the inauguration:

You can find out more about Ramya Ramana in this interview Pavani Yalamanchili did with her in late November last year, for The Aerogram.

Ramya’s ‘New York City’ reminds you of how powerful, transfixing, uplifting and unifying great poetry and great performance can be.

And what about the 18-year-old’s courage, performing her work in front of that huge crowd?

Thank you to The Aerogram, for bringing this poet and her work to a wider world.

[PS: The current New York State Poet is Marie Howe (appointed from 2012-14).]