Wednesday, May 28, 2014

1446


image from google dot com

hot bright evening -
the setting sun halted
in salute

--gillena cox



Honoring a grand lady poet Maya Angelou(86)who died today; Two of my all time favourites from her are
'Phenomenal Woman' and 'Still I Rise'





Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's 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.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.


Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

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.

14 comments:

Diane Mayr said...

Thanks for your tribute poem and for picking those two Angelou poems to post. There's such nobility in her words. And pride.

sanjuktaa said...

My favourites, too! Thank you, Gillena for this wonderful tribute!

Locomente said...

Super lovely haiku and imagination!

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for stopping by Diane

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Glad you dropped in Sanjuktaa

much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thank you for your appreciation Locomente

much love...

Out of Sight L said...

oh I can see, the marvelous touch of the sun, so splendid, Maya Angelou would love you, gosh so much, no doubt in my mind...

Magyar said...

The loss; eternally honored; I rise.
__Ever remembered, she rises in her words and history, Maya Angel ou.
_m

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks Lorraine

Much love...

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks for stopping by Doug

Much love...

Frieda said...

Your haiku is delightful. And such a lovely tribute!
Have a nice weekend!

Gillena Cox said...

Thanks Freida

Much love...

Cait O'Connor said...

Two of my favourites too, thanks for posting, Maya's passing is a great loss. And thanks for your comments on my blog.

Gillena Cox said...

Happy you dropped in Cait

Much love...