"The Hill We Climb" starts with a question, asking if we, as a nation, can find hope in a seemingly "never-ending shade." The "shade" consists of the misdeeds of America's past, the violence of current events, and the ongoing strife at the time of the poet's performance, which was given on January 20th, 2021 on the steps of the Capitol building, which only weeks earlier had been the scene of a riot.
Despite these challenges, Gorman emphasizes that America is not broken, "but simply unfinished." There is still a lot of work to be done, despite any appearance of progress. The speaker argues for peace and understanding, for victory and hope, even as the past seemingly haunts the nation's current actions. For Gorman, democracy cannot be "permanently defeated," Americans are resilient and persevering, and the country will one day be "whole," "bold," "fierce and free." She underscores that all Americans, from all corners of the nation, will come together to rebuild this country. Gorman ends the poem on a hopeful note: the day will come where the despair will end, but only if Americans are brave enough to change the current systems of injustice.
