[Martin Elster]

There are some inspired phrases and sentences in her poem. A few things, besides what Shaun pointed out, struck me:

There are two sentences that are what is referred to as a chiasmus.

For while we have our eyes on the future history has its eyes on us.
we - eyes - future/history - eyes - us (i.e., we)

how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe ... how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?

And here is another rhetorical figure where she repeats the last word of one line to start the next line:

If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right ...

Not to mention the wonderful alliteration throughout the whole poem. There is also great use of anaphora near the end: We will rise from / we will rise from / We will rebuild etc.

And the form is tighter than it at first may appear. Like the way the beginning image comes back at the end:

Beginning: When day comes we ask ourselves

Ending: When day comes we step out of the shade