Still You Rise: A Tribute To Maya Angelou Poem by Maya Hanson

Dear Maya,
A part of us died today
with your defeat
in the battle
against a forever
which we knew
would never come.

But if we could give
forever
to someone
it would be you.

Still you rise
like smoke from our chimneys,
dust on our roads,
love in our hearts.

Your essence
is the rainbow,
dancing in the rain.

You found our voices
your guardian shadow
helps us to sing.

We use your words
to teach ourselves things
you already knew.

You're the afterglow
of a time
we used to know.

We meld your music
into a song
the world plays on
and on
and on

Spreading
your love
your lead
your legacy
across a world
that's finally starting to
hear it.