PHENOMENAL WOMAN
Written by Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a model's fashion 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 steps
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 of 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 for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.
Such a great poem. I adore it. I love many others but this one gets the post.
I can be phenomenal at a photo shoot
Or in combat boots.
Phenomenal woman.
That's me
(And You and You and You in the back too)
One of my favorites...and currently posted on my MySpace page LOL.
Siobhan
Kabul, Afghanistan 3 March 2009 1019pm
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Comments
Wonderful choice :)
"Phenomenal woman
That's me."
INDEED. INDEED.
You knnow I jreally just keep coming back here to see your picture, but somehow, I get caught up in reading your posts too. Good stuff there too.
RATED for the queen of warriors
It seems like a perfect choice for you!
(Rated)
If I had ever managed to post my video reciting it on you tube I would have stuck that on here too.
@ Nan: It does sum up Maya and I’ll forgive you for the writing errors
@ One: LOL, unfortunately I’m not sorry I beat you to it!
@ Irritated: Thank you!
@ Bob: Why thank you for the compliment…both on my picture and my thoughts LOL. It’s been suggested that may not be me so I’m going to slap that picture up next to me right now (deployed and looking quite messy).
@ Nan: LOL
@ O’Steph: It is indeed. Perhaps I should have titled the post Hear Me Roar?
@ Dorinda: Aww, thank you.
@ Psycho: Glad I could introduce it to you. I’m meeting a lot of new poetry out on this open call myself
@ Zuma: Thank you
@ Kind: Thank you, she is rather fabulous.
@ Yekdeli: There is no choice. Resistance is futile.
Hell! You don't need an M16 in Afghanistan. You could just walk around looking gorgeous and the Taliban would friggin freeze in their tracks, young lady; it'd be like shooting the dummies on the target range.
Dam, talk about WMDs. I had no idea we used psyops so effectively.
I stay below the radar out here. I call it Reverse Desert Queen status.
I love that poem, love, love, it.
Don't be a stranger!
I am confused these days, because I no longer know where or how the Open Call posts are communicated. Seeing this as an Open Call was a complete surprise. I have sent that question in to the editors and they did not respond.
Anyway... nice job here.
Take care out there in the eternal dustbowl. Your friend Bob Conner