A Plagued Journey Poem by Maya Angelou

A Plagued Journey

Rating: 3.9


There is no warning rattle at the door
nor heavy feet to stomp the foyer boards.
Safe in the dark prison, I know that
light slides over
the fingered work of a toothless
woman in Pakistan.
Happy prints of
an invisible time are illumined.
My mouth agape
rejects the solid air and
lungs hold. The invader takes
direction and
seeps through the plaster walls.
It is at my chamber, entering
the keyhole, pushing
through the padding of the door.
I cannot scream. A bone
of fear clogs my throat.
It is upon me. It is
sunrise, with Hope
its arrogant rider.
My mind, formerly quiescent
in its snug encasement, is strained
to look upon their rapturous visages,
to let them enter even into me.
I am forced
outside myself to
mount the light and ride joined with Hope.

Through all the bright hours
I cling to expectation, until
darkness comes to reclaim me
as its own. Hope fades, day is gone
into its irredeemable place
and I am thrown back into the familiar
bonds of disconsolation.
Gloom crawls around
lapping lasciviously
between my toes, at my ankles,
and it sucks the strands of my
hair. It forgives my heady
fling with Hope. I am
joined again into its
greedy arms.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Buti Roos 23 April 2013

Got trapped along the flow of the poem, lol... someone said ``to understand poetry, you must have a heart not a talent``, and fully i do agree Maya Angelou really knew what she was doing

20 9 Reply
Patricia Grantham 17 June 2013

Now this is a beautiful poem. I feel the sense of imprisonment in this gem of a poem. We sometimes live in a world of darkness that we create for ourselves. When we see just a hint of light we float toward it for it is our only hope of escape. A very enlightening write.

20 8 Reply
marilyn tharp 01 January 2016

Love this one to your poems are beautiful

6 1 Reply
* Sunprincess * 29 June 2014

..............imprisonment.....darkness.....and sunlight....all ingredients for a great poem....enjoyed..

7 7 Reply
Angelina Holmes 06 May 2014

Very intense poem. It gave me chills to read!

6 6 Reply
Brian Jani 26 April 2014

Awesome I like this poem, check mine out 

4 14 Reply
Meshack Bankole 29 November 2013

The attitude of the poem is very pathetic! The beats of the emotions are very intense. And the whole imagery shows how vital freedom is especially when hope fades. - -God bless u, Maya!

11 15 Reply
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