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Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928)
Still I Rise
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.
Read poems about / on: history, dance, ocean, dream, fear, hope, pain, rose, spring
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I love this poem. It is both historical and personal. It shows the optimism of the writer and those in one form of bondage or the other. Definitely, there is lightat end of the tunnel
A powerful message, that is inspirational for all oppressed people, be it colour, creed, gender, disability, ect. Its not the emancipation of a group, but a personal triumph of the individual to rise above the dilemmas of the world around them. This deserves to be the best poem on this site, rhythm, content, conviction and most of all inspiration.
im blown away by this poem..........
i love poetry & loooking foward to reading more of your poems...may God keep on saturating you with all great ideas.
Best of the best. Very inspirational
What a positive thoughts this poem instills! wonderful. Not only women need to read this and get inspired, but it applies equally to all.
this is the best poem in the world like it with all my heart
VERY GOOD ONE.. :) I THINK IT'S AVERY EMOTIONALY INSPIRED POEM! !
Criteria lol ma buttons so small'
Better at keast than no button's a'tall
Did you live it or do you belong,
Woteva the crireria nice poem' stay strong.
It genuinely moves me. Its like Maya is telling us despite all of lifes worst detracters that can come anybody's way, she can strike the air with her hand and say she has faith, hope and dignity. I hope we will all rise together one day - Declan Maxwell - Dublin - Ireland.