If I had to describe myself, it would be in a word that has many meanings with a complexity which falls off the tongue.
A word made up of many elements, is deceptive in appearance, and creates an illusion from the imagination.
My word would be Phantasmagoric. ~Summer Ross

Saturday, September 11, 2010

For Phenomenal women everywhere!


And In case you are unable to see the actual reading of this wonderful poem here is the poem....


PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing of my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.


from And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou.

10 comments:

The Words Crafter said...

Oooohhhh, I love this!!!!!

Jules said...

I love Maya and recognized this instantly. You have a wonderful Saturday :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Old Kitty said...

And what a phenomenal poem this is too!! Lovely!

Thanks for sharing this here.

Take care
x

Talei said...

I love this poem! I bought it in a picture book format in Tokyo a few years back - its one of my favs! ;D

Summer Ross said...

Maya is a wonderfully poet. i wrote a story from one of her lines in college once. I never knew it existed until last year. But I'm glad to have found and thank you all for your comments letting me know you read it and enjoyed it. :)

Erinn said...

Maya kicks so much poetic butt. Thanks for sharing.
I'd love to see this poem in a picture book format.

Theresa Milstein said...

A wonderful poem. Thanks for sharing it!

Tabitha Bird said...

She is quite some woman hey.

Thanks for joining my blog :)

Ellie Garratt said...

Thank you for such a wonderful post.

Nighfala said...

Well, I am not a phenomenal woman, that's for sure.

I heart comments~~ You all Rock my world!

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