National Youth Poet Laureate and activist Amanda Gorman impressed the world at the age of just 23 when she recited her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration. But unfortunately, the young writer seems to be having trouble repeating her success: Gorman just put out an underwhelming new poem called “Lust Hamster,” and it doesn’t even rhyme.
Oof. Lots of artists experience a sophomore slump, and it sounds like Amanda Gorman just hit hers.
Gorman took the stage at a recent community fundraiser at Busboys and Poets in DC to present her newest work, and while everyone expected to hear another uplifting piece about reckoning with America’s past and creating a brighter future, what Gorman read did not quite live up to that standard. Instead, she gave the crowd “Lust Hamster,” which is produced below in its entirety:
Lust Hamster
Lust Hamster is a hamster that I won at the fair
He came in a sandwich baggie and he smells like syrup
He looks pretty much like a regular hamster (a hamster is a small kind of sheep, FYI)
But he loves pornography, and he’s desperate for a kiss
In our country there are many hamsters, and Lust Hamster is an example of one
From California to Delaware, he is the #1 Casanova
I won him playing ring toss ring toss at the fair, he is my property
They said “$20 for 20 rings to win a very sexual animal”
I said fine, whatever, I really don’t give a shit
I have to get out of here and buy some Diet Coke
I’m addicted to Diet Coke and Tostitos as well
When they gave me the Lust Hamster he bit me and then threw up
And then I threw up
I have the Lust Hamster in my purse right now
When you see him, you may want to clap
He loves to bite and I do too
He’s the Lust Hamster (the Lust Hamster).
(Hold up hamster)
(Hold for audience applause)
Thank you. I am Gorman. I love to bite. Lust Hamster.
Woof. If you’ve ever read “The Hill We Climb,” you know that “Lust Hamster” does not really rise to its level in terms of subject matter and artistic merit. Gorman provided little insight into “Lust Hamster,” except to announce that the poem was “autobiographical.” It’s pretty normal for a writer, especially such a young one, to hit a rough patch as she tries to navigate success and hone her craft, so we aren’t too worried about Gorman’s future work. But “Lust Hamster” was definitely pretty rough, so let’s hope she moves past this one and has better luck with whatever she writes next.
