Poets – Maya Angelou
When I was thirteen years old, I spontaneously started writing poetry. I was lying on my bedroom floor, talking on the phone with a notebook opened in front of me, and I suddenly wrote a poem.
Looking back, it was a strange thing to do. My main exposure to poetry at that point had been nursery rhymes, Dr. Suess, and Shel Silverstein, the poetry of my early childhood. I was an avid fiction reader, but I didn’t read much poetry back then.
I’ve always thought that those early poems were inspired and informed by music rather than literature. I was obsessed with music and song lyrics, and there’s really no other explanation for my early foray into poetry writing.
In school, we read poetry but it didn’t resonate with me. The poetry of academia was stiff, old-fashioned, and uninteresting to a teen girl in the 80s and early 90s. I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about because I wasn’t old enough to appreciate the classics.
Then, I became a young adult. Soon, the Internet arrived, and I found myself searching the web for poetry that was more like mine, poetry that was modern, edgy, and rhythmic. Poetry with flair and sass! This was around the time there was a “Girl Power” movement, and I was a young college student compelled by this new feminism.
So it’s no wonder that when I came across Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman
Take a few moments to listen to the poem through which I first discovered the remarkable talent that is Maya Angelou. In the video below, she reads “Phenomenal Woman” as the words show onscreen:
Maya Angelou
Who is this Maya Angelou? I wondered. Well, turns out that she’s a phenomenal woman herself. Her entire life and career takes you on a jaunt through the art of living the renaissance life.
Born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928, she was nicknamed “Maya” by her older brother. The nickname was a shortened version of “My-a-sister.” The first 17 years of Angelou’s life are documented in her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya worked as the first black female cable car driver in San Francisco. She’s worked as a dancer, editor, actor, playwright, screenwriter, and songwriter. In the 1950s, she was a member of the Harlem Writer’s Guild. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and worked as the Northern Coordinator for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Since 1991, she’s taught at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and continues to make frequent appearances on the lecture circuit. In the late 90s, she became the first African American woman to direct a major motion picture (Down in the Delta).
She recited her exquisite poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. Not since Robert Frost read at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961 had a poet recited at a U.S. Presidential Inauguration. Maya Angelou met Oprah Winfrey in the late 70s. The two eventually became close friends with Angelou fulfilling the role of Oprah’s beloved mentor.
Her work has won her over 30 honorary degrees. She was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for her 1971 volume of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie
Phenomenal Woman, Phenomenal Poet
Dr. Angelou has inspired people, poets, and artists from all walks of life. She has broken cultural barriers and set new precedents for writers. Her work as an activist has moved the masses and she’s touched the hearts of millions.
What strikes me most about Maya Angelou is her warm spirit and positive attitude, her refusal to let life beat her (or any of us) down. Her work is uplifting and invigorating. Below, you can watch Dr. Angelou recite another favorite of mine, “Still I Rise.”
To learn more about this remarkable, phenomenal woman, visit her website, Maya Angelou. Be sure to check out the Media section, where you can peruse Maya’s photo and video galleries and see some of the highlights of her life and work.
I too love Maya Angelou. I met her over 15 years ago through a school program for girls. It was awe-inspiring!
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You’re so lucky to have met her. While writing this, I spent some time watching videos of her reciting poetry and giving interviews and she is truly an amazing lady!
Great post! I also love Maya Angelou and I’m so glad you wrote about her. So cool that Hannah met her!
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Thanks!
This is fascinating. I was watching “How to Make an American Quilt” last week and she played Anna in that. It’s a very sassy part.
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She’s a fascinating woman. I didn’t know Maya Angelou was in How to Make an American Quilt; I saw that movie a long time ago.
What an inspiring woman! Thanks for sharing the poems, I’ll googling them the second I finish this comment
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She’s so inspiring! After I wrote this article and researched Dr. Angelou, I wrote a poem!
I see the power and conviction and why she inspired you.
I like the fact you remember who first ignited your passion for poetry and unleashed your inner-poet.
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I think Dr. Angelou deserves thanks for writing such a memorable poem
What an inspiring and lovely article!
You, Melissa, are a great poet and I await anxiously for you to publish a book of your works so we can all write about how great you are.
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Aw, thanks so much Lady J
Getting my poetry out there has been on my mind a lot lately. I just have so much material that I need to sort through!
Oh yes, she’s wonderful… I don’t write poetry much, mostly non-fiction and blogs, but Maya always tempts me to try.
BTW, I’ve wept and laughed with her often enough to feel like I’m on a first name basis.
Thanks
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Anne, Thank you. I just love Maya Angelou. I’ve experienced most of her poetry online, either through reading or watching poetry performances by either Dr. Angelou herself or other people delivering her amazing work. After writing this post, I rushed off and ordered a book of her poetry and I can’t wait to dive in
and I agree — I too feel like I’m on first name basis with her.
I have to check this out again later since I’m currently at work (I finally caught a break), but even though I haven’t heard/read a lot of her work, she’s still a favorite poet of mine. Like you, I also read poetry and school and I was never interested until sometime in my college years. That’s when I started going back and looking up different poets such as Poe and Frost. However, in high school I was “forced” to read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and it was one of the few required reading books that I actually liked. I started reading it a second time in college but got distracted with college work, so I never finished. And even now, I’m not exactly sure why the caged bird sings yet I feel like I should.
)
Lastly, my family and I missed our chance to see her gave a reading a couple years ago. We had previous plans but seriously considered skipping out to see her.
Anyway, great post! I’ll be back when I can get to an unrestricted computer.
Aw, you missed a chance to see Maya Angelou? Augh! I would love love LOVE to see her. Funny you mention Caged Bird — I am pretty sure I read it but I don’t remember for sure. I guess that’s what happens when you consume books the way I have (though lately, this is less of a problem). I just got a collection of Maya’s poetry and can’t wait to dig in
What an inspiring and lovely post about Maya Angelou. I am so happy to come across your blog.
Marinela x
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Thank you! Maya inspired me so I figured she could inspire others as well; I had to share this story: her work and accomplishments.