Another of my favorite writers and poets is Maya Angelou. I admire her talent and the kind of woman she is. She supports other talented people, especially women.

“No more slavery,
No more slavery,
No more slavery over me.”

Every generation has people born into it who are not necessarily geniuses or Rhodes Scholars, but they are men and women who see life in a different way. I see them in poverty, mostly unschooled, both genders, all religions and races. I see them as they walk through life, avoiding obstacles, rising out of pain, opening areas to any and all who need a hug of encouragement. I believe these people are very special and may even be angels given the gift of life on this plane.

Mays Angelou is one of these people. She walks with the dignity of a Queen and the loving heart of Mother Teresa and Sojourner Truth. She shimmers and shines. Life has not been easy for her.

If you are not familiar with her work, I suggest Even the Stars Look Lonesome, The Heart of a Woman, and The Poetry of Maya Angelou.

She tells a story about Sojourner Truth who was born a slave and fled. She assisted other fugitive slaves through the Underground Railroad and she worked with other women sufragets to earn the vote for women. There is a play about her life called “God and a Woman”.

Maya has a clear, powerful voice that rings with sadness, pain as well as joy and contentment.

Lord, In My Heart by Maya Angelou

“Holy haloes

Ring me around

Spirit waves on

spirit sound

Meshach and

Abednego

Golden chariots

Swinging low

I recite them

in my sleep

Jordan’s cold

and briny deep

Bible lessons

Sunday school

Bow before the

Golden Rule

Now I wonder

if I tried

Could I turn my

cheek aside

Marveling with

afterthought

Of my true Christ-

like control

and the nature

of my soul.

Would I strike with

rage divine

Till the culprit

fell supine

Hit out broad all

fury red

Till my foes are

fallen dead”

I think the first time the white middle class became aware of Maya is when she recited her poem, On the Pulse of the Morning, at President Clinton’s inauguration.