Maya Angelou

I have need of a friend.There is one and only one

who will give the air

from his failing lungs

for my body's mend.And that one is my love.

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.

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?

Visit us again, Savior.Your children, burdened with

disbelief, blinded by a patina

of wisdom,

carom down this vale of

fear. We cry for you

although we have lost

your name.

Many people wonder where my secret lies,

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model size.

When I try to show 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 Woman,

Phenominally .

I walk in a room just as cool as you please,

And to a man the fellows stand,

or fall down on their knees.

And then they swarm around me; a hive of honey bees.

I say,

oh it's the fire in my eyes,

the flash of my teeth,

the swing in my waist,

the joy in my feet.

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 oh, it's in the arch of my back.

And now you understand just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about,

or have to talk too loud.

When you see me walking out 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 hands.

The need for my care,

because I'm a woman.

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal Woman.

That's my mother,

and all your mothers.

And then my grandmothers.

And all your grandmothers.

And my great grandmothers,

And all your great grandmothers.

And my great great great,

And all your great great...

And all you women here,

And me.

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.

Petulant priests, greedy

centurions, and one million

incensed gestures stand

between your love and me.

You were a precious pearl

How I loved to see you shine,

You were the perfect girl.

And you were mine.

For a time.

For a time.

Just for a time.

We grow despite the

horror that we feed

upon our own

tomorrow.

We grow.

I went to sleep last night

And I arose with the dawn,

I know that there are others

Who're still sleeping on,

They've gone away,

You've let me stay,

I want to thank You.

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.

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.