For Poetry Wednesday this week, I am posting two poems by Maya Angelou. The first one, Still I Rise, is from her book, Phenomenal Woman, and the other is called, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings from a book by the same  name.

Maya Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman. Being a poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director, Dr. Angelou continues to travel the world making appearances, spreading her legendary wisdom.

A mesmerizing vision of grace, swaying and stirring when she moves, Dr. Angelou captivates her audiences lyrically with vigor, fire and perception. She has the unique ability to shatter the opaque prisms of race and class between reader and subject throughout her books of poetry and her autobiographies.

Dr. Angelou has authored twelve best-selling books including I know Why The Caged Bird Sings ?, A song Flung Up to Heaven and,  Even the Stars Look Lonesome.

In 1981, Dr. Angelou was appointed to a lifetime position as the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.

In January 1993, she became only the second poet in U.S. History to have the honor of writing and reciting original work at the Presidential Inauguration.

Dr. Angelou has been nominated for two Grammy Awards for “Best Spoken Word or Non Musical Album” for On The Pulse Of Morning (1993) and Phenomenal Woman (1995). In 2004, she received a Grammy Award nomination in the “Best Spoken Word Album” category for Hallelujah! The Welcome Table. Dr. Angelou has garnered over 50 honorary degrees from colleges and universities worldwide.

Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou

Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod 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.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
 by Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps
on the back of the win
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 the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he 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 a 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.

This post was written with the help of Wikipedia.

delete reply starfishred wrote on Jul 27, ’08 she is another one her poetry sings no matter if it is sad or happy it reaches out and grabs you

delete reply skeezicks1957 wrote on Jul 29, ’08 Maya Angelou is wonderful.  I enjoy reading her each time I do.  Great choice that you can’t go wrong with!

delete reply sylvie1 wrote on Jul 29, ’08, edited on Jul 29, ’08 This poetess is most remarkable. Maya Angelou is probably my most favorite. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read her work. I really enjoyed watcing her recite her poem, “I Rise.”

delete reply mindsnomad wrote on Jul 29, ’08, edited on Jul 29, ’08 I love her writing, she moves me, I think its because what she writes is so from the heart, so sincere that it hits you even when you dont want it to.  I read her Phenomenal Woman from time to time just so like her poem “I rise” I am compelled to rise too.

delete reply jadedruid wrote on Jul 29, ’08 I know why the caged Birds sing is one of my favorite poems. Maya Angelou is an amazing writer. Thank you.

delete reply jayaramanms wrote on Jul 29, ’08 Maya Angelou is a Brilliant poet. I have blogged the poem I know Why the Caged birds sing, earlier on Poetry Wednesday. The other one Still I rise Is also a great poem. Thank you for selecting and presenting these two masterpieces of Angelou this week. Mine is at – http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/241/POETRY_WEDNESDAY_-_TAGORE._

delete reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 29, ’08 There is no one like Maya! A friend of mine know her real story and told me she was molested by her uncle and was afraid to tell her mother. She was mute for years living in fear as the uncle told her he would seek reprisal if she told anyone. Rather than spilling the beans she remained silent. She wrote many poems wile locked in her own world. Her brother, one person she could confide in, saved all her work–she was throwing the pieces away. They now comprise her books.

delete reply dianahopeless wrote on Jul 29, ’08 Great choices. Maya is one of my favorite poets. http://dianahopeless.multiply.com/journal/item/327/For_Love_of_Rain_my_poem

delete reply vickiecollins wrote on Jul 29, ’08 oh my…both of these poems seem to me to be hymns in honor of the ability to battle on despite any obstacles.  To be who you are no matter how many people or what methods they use to pull one up short.  A great testimony to the indomnable human spirit. http://vickiecollins.multiply.com/journal/item/422/Poetry_Wednesday_Me_as_a_writer

delete reply millimusings wrote on Jul 30, ’08 Brilliant Maya Rocks!!!! Poetry Wednesday: Uni-Verse  Continued Part 2.

delete reply asolotraveler wrote on Jul 30, ’08 ah, as always – a gem of a post to be savored and thoroughly enjoyed

delete reply philsgal7759 wrote on Aug 1, ’08 So powerful and beautiful

delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Aug 3, ’08 really like the first one……………think almost every one could relate to that. In some way this just says how we all feel at sometime in our lives.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Aug 9, ’08 Thanks for all your comments, everyone ! I will have to catch up with all the links you left me !