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.
Poet Maya Angelou
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
Rest in Peace,
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.
Maya Angelou asked for us to pray for
President Obama
