Still I Rise- Maya Angelou
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 broke?
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 backyard.
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.
3 comments:
What a great poem. I know it is hard to believe that you are strong, I too find it hard to believe that I am strong also. It takes a lot of work to get to this spot but with help you will achieve it. The three words my therapist left me with yesterday were: 1)It's over
2) I am in control
3) You can't hurt me.
These are the 3 things she wants me to work on. And it is so hard to believe in it, but if we want to heal we have to believe it..take care..Mary
You'll get through this. You truely, truely will. You may not be able to get back the exact woman you were before that night. But you can evolve into who you're meant to be based on the strengths you've alway had. Beneath all the numbing out, anger, shame, and fear, you're still there. It just takes time to unbury yourself from underneath it all. But, in the process, you'll discover your strength and power and above all else, the BEAUTY of your spirit.
Just wanted to let you know that, if you haven't heard of him, Ben Harper sings a beautiful song using Maya's poem that you've posted. It's called "I'll Rise" and its on his album "Welcome to The Cruel World". It might help you when you're feeling low to listen to it. :)
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