Still I Rise---Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod 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
Clicky if it doesn't worky!
__________Maya Angelou’s, originally Marguerite Ann Johnson, poem, “Still I Rise” is perhaps one of the most interesting works I’ve ever seen. The message it brings forth is a powerful one, and Angelou does an amazing job at capturing our attention. Angelou was a civil rights activist who came from a long generation of slaves that had to work incredibly hard. Knowing this we can understand that this poem is very autobiographical, often referring to slavery.
__________Maya Angelou knows just what words to use where to bring forth exactly what she wants to say. For example, while referring to herself she uses sassiness to show the attitude of a young confident female. Or using “’cause” instead of “because” therefore making the poem more personal, as if she was really saying it. Using the phrase, “like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room” Angelou wishes to show that she’s worth a lot, using a valuable compound like oil to illustrate that very thing. Maya Angelou also compares herself to the moon and the sun “with the certainty of tides” saying she’s constant and that she won’t go away. This also may represent a menstrual cycle, since it’s consistent and is used to show her feminine side. In the next few lines Angelou brings more of the female rights to the table saying things like “bowed head and lowered eyes” most possibly referring to certain societies where women are not allowed to do certain things and are considered second to men. Next, Angelou uses the word haughtiness, which, unlike sassiness, seems to be more mature and not something you would call a little girl, but something you might use to refer to a grown-up woman. Certain metaphors come forth in this poem, like, “You may shoot me with your words” or “you may cut me with your eyes” which are both non violent acts but are said to physically hurt here. Angelou also uses diamonds, a precious stone, to demonstrate the power of the female parts, i.e. the power in reproduction and power in sexuality. We also see the constant repetition of the phrase “I rise” which helps the impact of that statement. She also uses “up from a past that’s rooted in pain” specifically roots referring to her ancestors. Then she says “I am the dream and the hope of the slave” since she rose up from being a slave to being such a successful and powerful woman. We can see that the main themes are civil rights and feminism. Maya Angelou constantly uses words that describe nature to describe women. Doing so compares women to Mother Nature (who is referred to as a woman). Mother Nature, like a woman, is unstoppable. She also tries to bring forth the argument that women shouldn’t have to fight for these basic rights. She also repeats the usage of “I” more like “we” as in women, (black women more specifically) and “you” to concentrate more on the men in this male dominated society.
__________Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise” brings forth a very powerful message. Through the usage of metaphors, similes and the specific comparison of women to diamonds, gold and even Mother Nature herself, Angelou stands to say quite a lot with this poem. It truly is a work of art.
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod 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
Clicky if it doesn't worky!
__________Maya Angelou’s, originally Marguerite Ann Johnson, poem, “Still I Rise” is perhaps one of the most interesting works I’ve ever seen. The message it brings forth is a powerful one, and Angelou does an amazing job at capturing our attention. Angelou was a civil rights activist who came from a long generation of slaves that had to work incredibly hard. Knowing this we can understand that this poem is very autobiographical, often referring to slavery.
__________Maya Angelou knows just what words to use where to bring forth exactly what she wants to say. For example, while referring to herself she uses sassiness to show the attitude of a young confident female. Or using “’cause” instead of “because” therefore making the poem more personal, as if she was really saying it. Using the phrase, “like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room” Angelou wishes to show that she’s worth a lot, using a valuable compound like oil to illustrate that very thing. Maya Angelou also compares herself to the moon and the sun “with the certainty of tides” saying she’s constant and that she won’t go away. This also may represent a menstrual cycle, since it’s consistent and is used to show her feminine side. In the next few lines Angelou brings more of the female rights to the table saying things like “bowed head and lowered eyes” most possibly referring to certain societies where women are not allowed to do certain things and are considered second to men. Next, Angelou uses the word haughtiness, which, unlike sassiness, seems to be more mature and not something you would call a little girl, but something you might use to refer to a grown-up woman. Certain metaphors come forth in this poem, like, “You may shoot me with your words” or “you may cut me with your eyes” which are both non violent acts but are said to physically hurt here. Angelou also uses diamonds, a precious stone, to demonstrate the power of the female parts, i.e. the power in reproduction and power in sexuality. We also see the constant repetition of the phrase “I rise” which helps the impact of that statement. She also uses “up from a past that’s rooted in pain” specifically roots referring to her ancestors. Then she says “I am the dream and the hope of the slave” since she rose up from being a slave to being such a successful and powerful woman. We can see that the main themes are civil rights and feminism. Maya Angelou constantly uses words that describe nature to describe women. Doing so compares women to Mother Nature (who is referred to as a woman). Mother Nature, like a woman, is unstoppable. She also tries to bring forth the argument that women shouldn’t have to fight for these basic rights. She also repeats the usage of “I” more like “we” as in women, (black women more specifically) and “you” to concentrate more on the men in this male dominated society.
__________Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise” brings forth a very powerful message. Through the usage of metaphors, similes and the specific comparison of women to diamonds, gold and even Mother Nature herself, Angelou stands to say quite a lot with this poem. It truly is a work of art.
