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User Rating: |
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8.5
/10
(1693
votes)
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Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's 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 step,
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 in 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 of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Maya Angelou
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Read poems about / on: woman, women, hair, smile, fire, joy, sun
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Comments about this poem (Phenomenal Woman
by
Maya Angelou
) |
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comments about this poem (Phenomenal Woman by
Maya Angelou
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Coleen Beverly
(11/17/2009 9:02:00 PM) |
There is no poem that moves me like this poem. I can read it a thousand times. The only poem that comes close is The Power of a Tear by Howard Simon.
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John Tustin
(11/17/2009 3:40:00 PM) |
Blood and darkness does not refer to the soul, but to the deep well a poet's inspiration comes from. Calling Maya Angelou a poet is like saying Lil Wayne is the next Ray Charles.
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Star Wolf
(11/16/2009 1:58:00 PM) |
Blood and darkness, These are not what everyone's souls are or should be made of. What is desolate soul, is the countless amount of Young women who are afraid to be themselves, down in the dump dump dumps. Media Is souless Maya is not.
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John Tustin
(11/9/2009 8:13:00 PM) |
Here is a quote from Pablo Neruda's acceptance of his Nobel Prize -
'I render my thanks and return to my work, to the blank page which every day awaits us poets so that we shall fill it with our blood and our darkness, for with blood and darkness poetry is written, poetry should be written.'
I don't see any blood or darkness above. Just bumper sticker platitudes. What she says is life-affirming dross and has no soul. I didn't miss anything, as a matter f fact, it was too obvious.
If you are insecure, strive to improve yourself instead of wallowing in it, pretending it is what you want.
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Noemi Solares
(11/9/2009 7:54:00 AM) |
really it's not for bored housewives but for all women who are insecure. it is a portrayal of pride in feminity and confidence in one's self. Bukowski, Sexton, Ginsberg, Neruda...all great. But Maya Angelou is an opinionated woman who's got something to say, and here, she makes perfect sense. And her repition here just emphasizes the point, even in an obvious way. Still, it's seems as though you've missed it.
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John Tustin
(11/8/2009 10:05:00 PM) |
Tripe. Feel-good-about-myself-and-my-alleged-flaws. Read by bored housewives that sip chardonney in the afternoon while the kids are at school. Do yourselves a favor and read Charles Bukowski, Anne Sexton, Allen Ginsberg and Pablo Neruda. Maya Angelou is puffed-up, soulless drivel. Calling Maya Angelou a poet is like calling Billy Ray Cyrus the next Hank Williams.
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Lewis Neil Is Awsome
(11/4/2009 4:42:00 PM) |
Wow, that was pretty good, but i hear there is this poem called 'Neil is awsome', it was life changing and insperational. Read it and vote it a 10!
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DEE RAAIN
(11/1/2009 5:16:00 PM) |
This is so true. I know how it is not to be how in my opinion people would see you or even in terms to how i see myself. But for me all is okay now, and especially with my weight issue in the past, i have gained confidence. and now to know that all are phenomenal, both woman and even men! ! lol :)
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Devin Robinson
(10/27/2009 6:09:00 PM) |
Sometimes you need to hear nice things... Bc ppl dont want to say it. (to me) its about a woman who is proud who she is... and doesnt care what ppl seem to think.. Mr. Snide
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Maya Angelou
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