Phenomenal Woman

I'm going to share with you something that I find so beautiful and uplifting. Its a poem by Maya Angelou. I love poetry and I discovered this poem in the film Poetic Justice, starring Tupac Shakur (RIP), Janet Jackson and Regina King. The film focuses on a woman who has been left with bitterness, after a past full of drama, and so she transforms this bitterness and pain into poetry. All the featured poems in the film are written by Maya Angelou, who I am now a huge fan of. I'd advise everyone to watch the movie, its actually quite good. If I actually know you, ask me nicely and you can borrow the DVD from me.

Anyway, back to the poem at hand. So when I first watched this film over a year ago, two particular scenes stood out to me. The first is from the picture above. Not going to tell you why I like this scene or what happens because then I'll just be ruining it for you. Lets just say its a simple and sentimental gesture that I couldn't help but be touched by. Anyway, the second and more important scene features this poem, Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou. Its a poem that uplifts and praises oneself as, yeah you've guessed it, a phenomenal woman. And yes, it is a conceited poem but somehow seems matter-of-fact rather than arrogant. Anyway, this poem has had a huge impact on my life in the past year. Its helped me see that no I am not perfect, and nobody is, but people love that. I can honestly say I love this poem soo much that I would love for it to be read at my funeral (sorry to sound morbid :-/ ) So I hope this poem means as much to you as it does to me. Here it goes (comments welcome) :

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

by Maya Angelou

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 of 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.