Friday, August 10, 2007

Phenomenal

I found this the other day in a book of poetry by Maya Angelou. I was going to apologize for it being a bit racy, but that seems to do an injustice to the author. So, here it is for all girls out there to feel proud of who they are along with the men who love them. And God made woman...and said it was good!


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

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey there! I always check in with you guys! Just don't always have something to add. Except today! I have a cd of Maya Angelo reading and it is awesome. She is pretty incredible. Thanks for posting this. It's beautiful!

The Gearharts said...

I really like the poem, and it wasn't too racy. However she does have some pretty racy stuff. I have a favorite quote from Angelo but I rarely have the nerve to say it out loud. I don't have the nerve to write it down.
I here you are going to get to visit with Kim and Tim. I hope you guys have a blast.

The Harris Family said...

OK GEARHART!!! Talk about a quote then say you can't say it or write it down? Why bring it up? :-)

I don't relate to this post... I also know it was never intended to be for me to relate to... Love you guys... When are we getting together?

J

Carolyn said...

Kristi,

Hey - have things picked up that much in your busy little lives - waiting for a new update!

We are doing well - found a place to move to - will be out of this place by end of month.

Saw a little redhead yesterday in Polonco - made me think of your girls. Miss you guys. Reecer starts Kinder2 tomorrow - full time. Yes, you can imagine my state of mind :)

Love you guys,
Care

Kim said...

kristi are you still out there???

Anonymous said...

I'm (way) late in commenting... (confession, I'm doing some "catch up" blog reading!) ...but I have to add some props to you for posting that poem! The first time I heard it, if you can imagine this, was when Selandra recited it for her monologue in a theatre class production at Tech. Lemme tell ya, I can't imagine Maya doing it any better than Sel...

Oh what confidence it expresses. We are women, eh?! Hon, YOU are one PHENOMENAL woman in my life!

I love you!
Ang