Still I Rise Maya Angelou You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread 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 back yard. 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.
I just started reading a book, The Last Lords of Palenque (1982), where the white American anthropologist discusses the “poise” of the Mayans and tries to find words in English that correspond to the wholeness they feel within themselves. It’s very poignant and painful. Thankful to humans/creators like Angelou (and you!) who take us out of the dominator culture/language/paradigm.
Thanks for posting this. I like his optimism; hopefully gold toilet and his brushes won’t do enough damage in the meantime, like dismantling our institutions and destroying people’s lives.
I just started reading a book, The Last Lords of Palenque (1982), where the white American anthropologist discusses the “poise” of the Mayans and tries to find words in English that correspond to the wholeness they feel within themselves. It’s very poignant and painful. Thankful to humans/creators like Angelou (and you!) who take us out of the dominator culture/language/paradigm.
Right on, sister. The best book I’ve read lately is Black and Female by Tsitsi Dangaremgba. Truly revolutionary.
Thank you, Margo. We all need this now. 🙏
Thank you ❤️
thank you Margo
Resist and Persist.
Thank you for this post, Margo!
Thanks, Cindy. Can’t wait what you do with this shitstorm with your next post. We need your humor and smarts! ❤️
I had no idea what Substack was or how to navigate this new app, i’m still learning. So happy to finally find you on here! 💗
I’m so happy you did! 🙏
This post from Andy Borowitz cheered me up:
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/what-happens-next-maybe-what-happened?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2337656&post_id=151373969&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=iwft9&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Thanks for posting this. I like his optimism; hopefully gold toilet and his brushes won’t do enough damage in the meantime, like dismantling our institutions and destroying people’s lives.
Wonderful poem Margo.
The rhyming and rhythm is so natural.
Really feels undefeated.
Maya Angelou’s performances of this poem are also the perfect antidote to the cloud of despair hanging over us.
Thank you friend