Sep 03 2010
Maya Angelou – Phenomenal Woman
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.
— from Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women, by Maya Angelou
/ Photo by CG2_SoulArtist /
Something today by Maya Angelou in honor of phenomenal woman.
Woman, not some idealized form found in glossy magazine. Woman, not defined by a man as lover, wife, mother. Woman, not the virgin stripped of sex, and not the whore plastered with it. But woman, full and strong and bold. Praise to that mighty presence! Phenomenal woman.
|
Maya Angelou
US (1928 – ) |
“Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size”
This lines are really phenomenal; telling us that there is more than beauty to be a REAL woman.
Thanks Ivan for sharing.
Dear Ivan
I prayed before I opened the email that I wanted this poem to be for me and change me. It has. Its been a challenging week for a variety of reasons but what made me sad was that on the news a woman’s body was found in a chimney. An intelligent woman, a doctor who had an off and on relationship with a man and when he would not let her in she decided to climb through the chimney and she died. I thought what will make a woman so desperate, intelligent, bright with her whole life ahead of her.
My life is not easy but strive to be the phenomenal woman who is defined full, strong and bold.
Thank you again for choosing this poem.
Mithra
Ahhhh…Dear, dear Maya…
Always inspiring,
Always down-to-Earth,
Always invigorating,
soothing,
seductive,
sassy,
sincere,
solid,
serene,
A Vibrant Breath of Fresh Air~~~~~
Gracias, Ivan ~~~~~
Thank you Ivan,
I really admire May Angelou as a person, a woman and as a writer/poet and all she stands for.
Is it a funny coincidince or synchronicity I wonder, but today I also posted one of her poems in a personal blog.
I love this poem. I am a man, and I can FEEL exactly what she is talking about.
I admire women with this mysterious allure. I can even substitute the word ‘woman’ for ‘man’ in this poem and take it to heart on a subjective level. I am a Phenomenal Man.
Thank you, Ivan. Beautiful selection.
Thank you for that. I am in tears… the good kind.
Phenomenal. I can hear Ms. Angelou’s voice when I read these lines. I heard her recite them once and it truly was a phenomenal experience. Thank you for bringing it back to me.
I wrote My Phenomenal Woman poem during this conference last year
when Maya’s poem was used as our prompt…
It was used as a prompt to build self esteem and it worked!
Wellness & Writing Connections Conference this year’s information.
http://www.wellnessandwritingconnections.com/annualconference.html
MY Phenomenal Woman Poem
I am a woman; phenomenally
I am created as a mystery.
Yes, to my man
I am a wonderful mate;
I tell him how fortunate
has been his fate.
To my sons,
I tell them they are lucky young men
to have me for their mother,
yes, I’ll tell them again.
I am smart, yes
compassionate and kind.
I am not OCD when I ask
them to mind.
When I tell them the method,
yes the way to do,
I want them to hear
my experience,
give respect…
Is that understood?
I have a rhythm
and a way
about me, even
though I must live
with total flexibility.
I juggle schedules,
carpools, and such,
for most the requirements
would have been way
too much.
Three sons born,
two years apart,
no one warned me then,
that this plan just might
have been… too much.
But I loved excitement,
this is plain to see
‘cause I married a man
with an electrifying personality.
Oh, the things that life brings us,
it teaches you a lot
about husbands, about children,
careers and what not.
But when you’re a phenomenal
woman, as you’ve been told
you can be, then…
you think you can
handle ALL challenges
as easy as 1, 2, 3…
With a lot hard work,
running 24/7,
well… you might even climb
your way up to heaven.
But eventually you find
there are mountains, you
simply cannot climb,
and then you write poems
so you won’t lose your mind.
And you remember the way
you used to be…
strong, young and slender,
full of energy,
potential,
and possibilities
Edit 7/2/10
Claudia Hill Duffee, MA
AMEN!
Dear Ivan
I see this strong presence within all of humanity. The challenge is not to allow ego to take over.
With Love
Fouzia
very beautiful poem from an inspirational woman. a woman brings to the world the magic of her gracefulness in each step she takes.
Hi Ivan,
as a matter of fact every moving woman
is a swinging target for every healthy man
man attracted by woman’s meaning inborn
to do holy mission to play triumphal horn
afar from beauty it is heavenly condition
women to arouse in men erotic a passion
all is foreseen in the survival programme
draws man to woman appealing diagram
whatever is eaten its eater is to enjoy
though honey is what that all dirive joy
YES!!! Exuberantly Phenomenal!!!
And, exactly what I needed to hear today.
Do you know, I would LOVE to hear this poem set to music! That poem and the one that another woman posted here. Get them on the air! Make them even more accesible! Here is a potent antidote to all the BS floating around in the media that has been passing as entertainment. BAH! I say.
Thank you so much, Ivan, for bringing this gem of language to our attention. Keep up the flow, please!
With gratitude and blessings,
–Trinity