Photo courtesy CBS


Hours after a gunman claimed the lives of more than 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda responded with a powerful sonnet, which he read Sunday night in acceptance of the Tony Award for Best Score.

"When senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day," he said. "We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer. And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love, cannot be killed or swept aside."

Miranda's speech came just moments after Tonys host James Corden offered his own somber tribute to the victims at the Pulse nightclub.

“Your tragedy is our tragedy,” Corden said onscreen at the start of the ceremony. “Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality, and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved. Hate will never win. Together we have to make sure of that. Tonight stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle.”

Watch Miranda's acceptance speech below (skip to 1:45 mark), followed by the full text of his sonnet.

My wife’s the reason anything gets done.

She nudges me towards promise by degrees.

She is a perfect symphony of one.

Our son is her most beautiful reprise.

We chase the melodies that seem to find us

Until they’re finished songs and start to play.

When senseless acts of tragedy remind us

That nothing here is promised, not one day

This show is proof that history remembers

We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger

We rise and fall and light from dying embers,

Remembrances that hope and love last longer.

And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love, cannot be killed or swept aside.

I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story.

Now fill the world with music, love, and pride.