Today feminist women, poets and African Americans lost one of our brightest shining stars. Maya Angelou passed today. She was found dead in her home. Maya has deeply enriched the literary world with her books such as I  Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I was a big fan of her tremendous work. Her autobiographies are am inspiring and continuing narratives of our age. Maya was a passionate worker for Civil Rights. Ms. Angelou was named Poet Laureate and read her poem, On the Pulse of Morning, at President Clinton’s inauguration.

 

Maya Angelou was  a woman who rose up out  of her southern childhood and the way a house can hurt or heal a child. She wrote about Africa and she sang the praises of sensuality. She gave words of wisdom to the world from the lessons she learned.

 

Her poetry is inspiring and moving. Her words took you into her heart and soul. When she read her work, tears always came to my eyes. I know that with her passing, we have lost a great woman. A woman who cared about everything and everyone. I would encourage anyone who has not read some of her work to do so because it will enrich your soul and mind.

 

Essays: Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now

Poetry: On the Pulse of Morning

Shaker, Why Don’t you Sing?

Phenomenal Woman

The Poetry of Maya Angelou

And Still I Rise

Autobiography: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

The Heart of a Woman

All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes

 

Her books are available in book stores and at Amazon and on Kindle.

Maya Angelou was a writer, a freedom fighter, a lover of life, a survivor of violence, a believer in personal freedom.  You could “catch her spirit” just reading her words. She was an elegant woman, and a tough street girl. She was proud of being Black and celebrated her life, the joys, the triumphs, heartbreak and passion.

 

 

 

miss rosie

when i watch you

wrapped up like garbage

sitting, surrounded by the smell

of two old potato peels

or

when I watch you

in your old man’s shoes

with the little toe cut out

sitting, waiting for your mind

like next week’s grocery

I say

when I watch you

you wet brown bag of a woman

who used to be

( the best looking gal in Georgia )

used to be called the Georgia Rose

I stand up

through your destruction

I stand up

 

 

 

America

The gold of her promise

has never been mined

 

Her borders of justice

not clearly defined

 

Her crops of abundance

the fruit and the grain

 

Have not fed the hungry

not eased that deep pain

 

Her proud declarations

are leaves on the wind

 

Her southern exposure

black death did befriend

 

Discover this country

dead centuries cry

 

Erect noble tablets

where none can decry

 

she kills her bright future

and rapes for a sound

 

Then entraps her children

with legends untrue

I beg you

 

Discover this country.   —Maya Angelou

 

 

 

“Oh, pray my wings are gonna fit me well.”  —Maya Angelou  

Maya, you left us today at 86 years of age. Your wings fit you very well. God/Goddess thank you for lending her to us for the last eighty six years. She was a gift of spirit and heart.