California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick’s poem ‘My California’ has been selected by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office as part of the state’s contribution to the official America250 time capsule. The capsule, which features contributions from all 50 states, is scheduled to be opened in 250 years — in the year 2276.

Reflection of California’s Present and Promise

Herrick’s poem captures the state’s present and promise, a state where immigrants are intertwined and where people enjoy the cities and the coasts, the central valley and wine country. ‘In my California, it’s a place of immigrants, parents, refugees, hard-working families,’ Herrick said. ‘We’re almost 40 million people. And one out of every four is born outside of the United States. I happen to be one of them.’

Herrick’s perspective is deeply rooted in his upbringing in Fresno. Adopted at 10 months old from South Korea by a white American family, Herrick said he often felt like an outsider growing up. He wrote the poem when he was 37.

‘When I wrote the poem, it was a turning point for me,’ Herrick said. ‘I started to think, this is my state, too. You know, I’ve lived here all my life since I was adopted, and I have a lot of love for it. And I also have a lot of hope for it.’ By its final stanzas, the poem transitions into a map of what the state could become — a vision of California led by freedom for all people.

Herrick hopes his inclusion in the historical project will inspire others to find their own voices. ‘Poetry is there for you,’ Herrick explained, ‘and I like to think that there are a lot more poets out there, or that there is really poetry in everyone.’

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.