Maya Angelou

[npandit]

It was with great sadness that I saw the news today that one of my favorite poets, and truly a beacon of light in the world, Maya Angelou, had passed away.

Does anyone want to share some of her poetry, or their favorite quotes from her?

My favorite is:

"The free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wings in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on the dawn bright lawn
and names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom."

[Fran]

Sad news RIP Maya

[David Dawson]

Not a huge amount to add, but absolutely agree; a colossus.

[Nathrad Sheare]

She'll be missed. I was sad to read about her passing. She had a very meaningful way of expressing her inner self, and quite a soul she was.

[stoppoppingtheP]

She was one of my favorite poets. I especially love her poem Still I Rise. I find it so powerful.

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Maya Angelou

[npandit]

She was one of my favorite poets. I especially love her poem Still I Rise. I find it so powerful.

I agree, such a lovely poem! Thanks for sharing.

[Nathrad Sheare]

Whatever the controversy may be among critics, I think she was a very creative poet. She got straight to the heart of matters without sacrificing elegance. I saw one of her readings online a few months ago and I thought she was wonderful. She had a rare dignity about her. A fascinating lady we will miss.

[qwietstorm]

Phenomenal Woman was one of my favorite poems by Ms. Angelou. I like the selection that you've posted too. She is definitely one of my writing inspirations.

[NakedSoulPoet]

I love all of her work, both poetry and books. As a poet myself I was very saddened by the news. I think her poem: When Great Trees Fall captures the essence of when a great person such as herself passes on. I'm just glad she existed.

When Great Trees Fall
Maya Angelou

When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.

When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.

When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.

Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance,
fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold
caves.

And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.

[npandit]

I think her poem: When Great Trees Fall captures the essence of when a great person such as herself passes on. I'm just glad she existed.

Wow. Thank you for posting that, it gave me goosebumps! It's how I feel about so many people; and you're right, it captures her own passing very well. For some reason, I had never seen this poem before--but now it's definitely one of my new favorites.

qwietstorm, I agree about Phenomenal Woman, I love that too!

[Fran]

"We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed."

We should all keep those line in mind.

[NakedSoulPoet]

npandit- It gave me goosebumps too ... I read it many time on the day of her passing

Fran- I agree!!

[Fran]

Watched the streaming of her memorial service earlier - great invention the www - very fitting tribute to a Phenomenal Woman

[thsavage2]

Maya Angelou is legendary. That's the best word I can come up with for her, if I could only use one word. Her novels, poetry, and activism make her one of the best role models there is. My favorite poem of hers is "Phenomenal Woman." She will be greatly missed. What a truly singular writer.

[kautetastic]

I would have to say my favorite poem from Maya Angelou has to be "Phenomenal Woman"