Maya Angelou Inspires Me

President Obama kisses poet and author Maya Angelou

 after giving her the 2010 Medal of Freedom 

 the White House February 15, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Maya Angelou Quotes

"When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. "

" People will forget what you said
People will forget what you did
but people will never forget how you made them feel"

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."

"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at it destination full of hope."

 

"Most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise."

"My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return."

"Nothing will work unless you do. " 

"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning."

 While photographing Oprah many years ago for the New York Times, Maya Angelou was the guest on this particular show.

She recited Phenomenal Woman.

My all time favorite poem.

Phenomenal Woman

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 in 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.

Maya Angelou