Thursday, December 22, 2005

And still I rise

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 backyard.

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 -

7 comments:

BuJ said...

wow.. i like it.

particularly :

"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?
"

Would be interesting to know more about the poet. Her life, her struggles.. let's see.. where's google?

CG said...

Yes, you would like that line wouldn't you?

BuJ said...

It's lovely.

* said...

Are these the words to some song that you may have composed.. to assist you in your profession..ie as a POLE DANCER? Esp the lyrics that Buj has selected.

CG said...

LOL@kaya

No dear. it is poetry and BUJ got caught up in one particular line I think!!!

* said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
* said...

I knew that!!
(I am an under 12's SOTHEBY POETRY COMPETITION winner.Brag brag...ok fine it was like a 100 years ago...BUT I unnerstan poetry