Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Maya, reflecting, poem of the day

First of all I'm reflecting on the recent passing of Mayo Angelo. Poet, author, dancer, feminist and activist. An all around amazing woman. This is one of her earlier poems... it says so much, so well.

Still I Rise

Maya Angelou1928-2014
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 broken?
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.
--
And it also seems a bit apropos for the end of intern year. Intern year where is seems like many days/weeks/months I was burned out, tired, trampled on and shot with words.  And yes I realize that this is NOT what Maya was writing about but it is a beautiful poem and I think my analogy also works. 
Enjoying my day off surfing the internet, drinking coffee and daydreaming. The weather is rainy and its a nice day to be inside catching up on stuff. Happy Hump Day to you too!

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