APPENDIX A MAYA ANGELOU’S SELECTED POEMS
A. Phenomenal Woman
Pretty woman wonder where my secret lies. Im not cute or built to fit a fashion models size
But when I start to tell them, They think Im telling lies.
I say, Its in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips, The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips. Im a woman
Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman,
Thats me.
I walk into a room Just as cool as you please,
And to a man, The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
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They swarm around me, A hive of honey bees.
I say, Its the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet. Im a woman
Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman,
Thats me.
Men themselves have wondered What they see in me.
They try so much But they cant touch
My inner mystery. When I try to show them,
They say they still cant see. I say,
Its the arch of my back, The sun in my smile,
The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style.
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Im a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, Thats me.
Now you understand Just why my heads not bowed.
I dont shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing, I ought to make you proud
I say, Its the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair, The palm of my hand,
The need for my care. Cause Im a woman
Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman,
Thats me.
B. Still I Rise
You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies,
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You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, Ill rise.
Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom?
Cause I walk like Ive 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 Ill 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? Dont you take it awful hard
Cause I laugh like Ive got gold mines Diggin in my own back yard.
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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, Ill rise.
Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like Ive got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of historys shame I rise
Up from a past thats rooted in pain I rise
Im 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 thats wondrously clear I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
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I rise I rise.
C. Equality