Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

The Wonderful Maya Angelou

Amiri Baraka and Maya Angelou dance at the The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York.You’ve probably already heard about the passing of one of the most phenomenal women of her time, or any time, Maya Angelou. Her life’s work and experiences always astounded me: How much she saw, did, and created, made her a complete inspiration. So in her honor I thought I’d share on of my favorite Angelou poems (and not just because she mentions friend chicken).

WOMAN WORK by Maya Angelou

I’ve got the children to tend
The clothes to mend
The floor to mop
The food to shop
Then the chicken to fry
The baby to dry
I got company to feed
The garden to weed
I’ve got shirts to press
The tots to dress
The can to be cut
I gotta clean up this hut
Then see about the sick
And the cotton to pick.

Shine on me, sunshine
Rain on me, rain
Fall softly, dewdrops
And cool my brow again.

Storm, blow me from here
With your fiercest wind
Let me float across the sky
‘Til I can rest again.

Fall gently, snowflakes
Cover me with white
Cold icy kisses and
Let me rest tonight.

Sun, rain, curving sky
Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone
Star shine, moon glow
You’re all that I can call my own.