Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women (1995) - Plot & Excerpts
If every woman believed this and lived this Phenomenal Woman, what a powerful force we would be.Maya simply extols the WOMAN. She is effortlessly eloquent and each word is perfectly selected to fit. I take pride in being a woman more so since Maya can express my feelings that I could never put into words. Her poetry deserves as many stars as there are in the black night sky.Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's sizeBut when I start to tell them,They think I'm telling lies.I say,It's in the reach of my armsThe span of my hips,The stride of my step,The curl of my lips.I'm a womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That's me.I walk into a roomJust as cool as you please,And to a man,The fellows stand orFall 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 womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That's me.Men themselves have wonderedWhat they see in me.They try so muchBut they can't touchMy inner mystery.When I try to show themThey 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 womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That's me.Now you understandJust why my head's not bowed.I don't shout or jump aboutOr have to talk real loud.When you see me passingIt 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 womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That's me. Maya Angelou Phenomenal Woman is an AMAZING poem that has touched so many females, showing that it is not whats on the outside that counts. showing that you dont have to be pretty or skinny to be phenomenal. this poem is one of my favorites because it made me stop worrying about what people think of me. i love this poem because when i am feeling ugly or fat i can read this poem and it will make me feel so much better
"I write for the Black voice and for any ear which can hear it." So said the author of this little book, who sadly died earlier this year. It is a beautiful slim hardback book, slightly wider than an average paperback, and contains just one famous poem Phenomenal Woman by the great Maya Angelou. The poem is given an extra dimension, as it is accompanied by reproductions of paintings of Tahitian women by Paul Gauguin, who died 25 years before Angelou was born. Although the two are miles apart both in time, culture and location, it is an inspired coupling. At the back there is a short one-side biography of each, the poet and the painter. Additionally, there is a list of titles of all the paintings, with dates and present locations. Each double page spread has a painting by Gauguin, plus two lines, a couplet or maybe more, from Angelou's poem. Sometimes there is an additional smaller reproduction. The choices perfectly mirror the descriptions in the poem itself; they are so apt that it is possible to read the book as if they are illustrations for it, although of course the paintings have an inner life and beauty of their own, glowing with colour and vitality. Maya Angelou was born "Marguerite Johnson", but her brother nicknamed her "Maya" meaning "mine", and it stuck. She is a unique voice in poetry, and respected as a writer, performer, teacher and director. She has left a powerful legacy. This poem is typical of her voice, and as with much of her work, benefits from narration. The words are simple, repetitive, rhythmic and structured. There is a refrain,"I'm a woman,Phenomenally,Phenomenal woman,That's me."There is colour and light, sensitivity and gentleness in both poem and paintings. There is strength, power, vitality, knowledge and wry humour. Her poem is inspirational and life-affirming."All of my work is meant to say, "You may encounter many defeats but you must not be defeated.""Just one poem, but it is a lovely book.
What do You think about Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women (1995)?
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's sizeBut when I start to tell them,They think I'm telling lies.I say,It's in the reach of my armsThe span of my hips,The stride of my step,The curl of my lips.I'm a womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That's me.I walk into a roomJust as cool as you please,And to a man,The fellows stand orFall 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 womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That's me.Men themselves have wonderedWhat they see in me.They try so muchBut they can't touchMy inner mystery.When I try to show themThey 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 womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That's me.Now you understandJust why my head's not bowed.I don't shout or jump aboutOr have to talk real loud.When you see me passingIt 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 womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That's me.
—Zari
Phenomenal Woman is a poem that I have always heard about. Now that I am older it means so much more to read it and think about what Maya Angelou is actually saying. This poem could be a great mentor text to teach up and coming writers about voice and poetry. First and foremost Maya Angelou writes in a tone that speaks to a woman's values. It is a tone that makes a woman feel good inside and out. It reflects how a person defines there own beauty. The voice used is so strong and powerful and reflects to writers the passion one must have about a particular subject to touch their readers. For example Maya Angelou says, "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 womanPhenomenally."That line automatically makes me feel good as a reader so I know it has an effect on others also. Another thing this poem could show writers is that poetry doesn't have to rhyme. A poem that doesn't rhyme is called free verse or a prose poem. It is important for writer's to know that their writing is unique to them and they should write how they feel. The traditional way is not always key. Poetry should be free and fun.
—Tiffany Wideman
Phenomenal Woman is a beautifully written poem by Maya Angelou. The poem speaks of the uniqueness of women and what makes her a phenomenal woman. Angelou incorporates metaphors well into her writing by using lines like "Then they swarm around me. A hive of honey bees" and "the flash of my teeth." She also uses comeback lines and repeats "I'm a woman. Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman. That's me." I loved reading this poem and experiencing Angelou's use of subtly rhymes that didn't over power the meaning of her poem and allowed her voice to speak through her poetry.If I were to use this poem in a classroom setting I would use it in partnership with a picture book to teach students about comeback lines across genres.
—Sauda Abdullah
