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User Rating: |
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8.7
/10
(1529
votes)
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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 back yard.
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
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Read poems about / on: history, dance, ocean, dream, fear, hope, pain, rose, spring
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Comments about this poem (Still I Rise
by
Maya Angelou
) |
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comments about this poem (Still I Rise by
Maya Angelou
)
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Donna M
(2/4/2010 11:08:00 PM) |
Amin H,
Wow, that's an epic display of privilege there. Yes, let's read a poem by a Pulitzer Prize winning (how am I not surprised you didn't know that) black female and wonder how a white man is supposed to feel about it. Who will think of the poor white men?
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Mohammad Daraghmeh
(2/4/2010 9:51:00 AM) |
I can easily relate to this poem. Question: what race are you? Also, if you and everyone could comment on my new poem. I'm new here and would love some comments. Thank you in advance.
http: //www.poemhunter.com/poem/this-was-always-hard-for-me-to-say/
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Amin H
(2/2/2010 9:40:00 PM) |
pulitzer prize winner, i didn't know that.
how is this poem supposed to make a white male feel? that You in the poem is actually a white male, or the system? so the white male is supposed to feel guilty? or wait for HER to rise above all,
and i didn't know the epic of the rising black is still going on.
and i liked the poem, it was touching.
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Victoria Mbali
(2/1/2010 11:09:00 AM) |
i love it you've just made proud of who i am and nothing will stand in way.
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Luis Ortiz
(1/29/2010 2:25:00 AM) |
This is in response to William Rodenberg's comment.
First of all this is a free verse style poem which means it does not need to have a particular structure. I'm guessing(since you made it look like you think you know about poetry) that you're aware that there are different styles of poems. Now about the imagery part that you said it lacks. What part of 'you may trod me to the very dirt- but still, like dust, i'll rise' is not imagery? , what part of 'just like the moons and like the suns- with the certainty of waves' is not imagery? . In fact there are more through out this poem and if you actually knew what imagery is you'll understand. I love this poem but that is not the reason why i'm saying all this but because i think is disrespectful to the author Maya Angelou a PULITZER PRIZE NOMINEE that you a guy who didn't even noticed that this poem was free verse to judge her like that saying it was 'bland and distasteful'. My man poetry does not need to be liked ny people because poetry is about writing whatever is on your mind in many DIFFERENT ways. Sonnets, Haikus, Acrostic, including free verse. I might not be an expert in poetry but i do a lot of poems so i know quite a few things about it. Now if you didn't like the poem, well too bad, but she didn't specifically do it for you. I think you're the one confused because this poem can relate to a lot of black people, she knew very well what she was talking about, the question is, DO YOU KNOW? go take some poetry lessons and African-American history then reread this poem so you can understand. Don't reflect your insecurities in other people. because seriously you're the one confused in life about poetry.
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Natasha Phillips
(1/21/2010 7:44:00 PM) |
Wont y'all agree with me that Dr. Angelou has a supernateral ability to capture the feelings of the black woman in her poems? she is simply inspirational. It makes me think that despite what others may say, think or do to me.......still like air, I rise.
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Kenny Titus
(1/15/2010 11:03:00 PM) |
lovely poem....
keep writing.....! ! !
plzz do me a favour by commenting on my poem guys!
thank ya.....here is the link:
http: //www.poemhunter.com/kenny-titus/
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Jessie Mahoney Bathis
(1/13/2010 11:03:00 PM) |
I'm not going to comment on the opinions of others.
I think this poem is great, i enjoyed reading it and what matters most is that she wrote it and wanted to share it with the world. I praise her ability to be able to share her thoughts and feelings with complete strangers.
Thankyou for posting this poem.
Well done x
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Lorraine Margueritte Gasrel Black
(1/13/2010 10:31:00 AM) |
Every time I read this poem it makes my spirit soar! ! There's nothing like self respect and freedom..can't get better than that! !
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Maya Angelou
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