天涯在线书库《www.tianyabook.com》 《The Poetry of Maya Angelou》 A Conceit Give me your hand Make room for me to lead and follow you beyond this rage of poetry. Let others have the privacy of toug words and love of loss of love. For me Give me your hand. Alone Lying, thinking Last night How to find my soul a home Where藏书网 water is not thirsty And bread loaf is not stone I came up with ohing And I dont believe Im wrong That nobody, But nobody make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody make it out here alone. There are some millionaires With mohey t use Their wives run round like banshees Their children sing the blues Theyve got expensive doctors To cure their hearts of stone. But nobody No, nobody make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody make it out here alone. Now if you listen closely Ill tell you what I know Storm clouds are gathering The wind is gonna blow The race９９lｉｂ? of man is suffering And I hear the moan, Cause nobody, But nobody make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody make it out here alone. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings The free bird leaps on the back of the win and floats down..ream till the current ends and dips his wings in the e sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage seldom see through his bars e his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still and is tune is heard on the distant hillfor the caged bird sings of freedom The free bird thinks of another breeze arade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he he sky ..is own. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom. Insomniac There are some nights when sleep plays coy, aloof and disdainful. And all the wiles that I employ to win its serviy side are useless as wounded pride, and much more painful. Men When I was yo..ung, I used to Watch behind the curtains As men walked up and dowreet. Wino men, old men. Young men sharp as mustard. See them. Men are always Going somewhere. They knew I was there. Fiftee?n Years old and starving for them. Under my window, they would pauses, Their shoulders high like the Breasts of a young girl, Jacket tails slappinis nice. A quick hug. Soft into your defenselessness. A little More. The hurt begins. Wrench out a Smile that slides around the fear. When the Air disappears, Your mind pops, exploding fiercely, briefly, Like the head of a kit match. Shattered. It is your juice That runs down their legs. Staining their shoes. When the earth rights itself again, And taste tries to return to the tongue, Your body has slammed shut. Forever. No keys exist. Then the window draws full upon Your mind. There, just beyond The sway of curtains, men walk. Knowing something. Going someplace. But this time, I will simply Stand and watch. Maybe. Million Man March Poem The night has been long, The wound has been deep, The pit has been dark, And the walls have been steep. Under a dead 藏书网blue sky on a distant beach, I was dragged by my braids just beyond your reach. Your hands were tied, your mouth was bound, You couldnt even call out my name. You were helpless and so was I, But unfortuhroughout history Youve worn a badge of shame. I say, the night has been long, The wound has been deep, The pit has been dark And the walls have been steep. But today, voices of old spirit sound Speak to us in words profound, Across the years, across the turies, Across the os, and across the seas. They say, draw o one another, Save your race. You have been paid for in a distant place, The old ones remind us that slaverys s Have paid for our freedom again and again. The night藏书网 has been long, The pit has been deep, The night has been dark, And the walls have been steep. The hells we have lived through and live through still, Have sharpened our senses and toughened our will. The night has been long. This m I look through yuish Right down to yo?ur soul. I know that with each other we make ourselves whole. I look through the posture and past your disguise, And see your love for family in y brown eyes. I say, clap hands as e together in this meeting ground, I say, clap hands as deal with each other with love, I say, clap hands a us get from the low road of indifference, Clap hands, let us e together and reveal our hearts, Let us e together and revise our spirits, Let us e together and se our souls, Clap hands, lets leave the preening And stop imp our own history. Clap hands, call the spirits back from the ledge, Clap hands, let us invite joy into our versation, Courtesy into our bedrooms, Gentleness into our kit, Care into our nursery. The aors remind us, despite the history of pain We are a going-on people who will rise again. And still we rise. Momma Welfare Roll Her arms semaphore fat triangles, Pudg.y hands bunched on layered hips Where bones idle under years of fatback And lima beans. ..Her jowls shiver in accusation Of crimes clichéd by Repetition. Her children, strangers To childhoods toys, play Best the games of darkened doorways, Rooftop tag, and know the slick feel of Other peoples property. Too fat to whore, Too mad to work, Searches her dreams for the Lucky sign and walks bare-handed Into a den of bereaucrats for Her portion. They dont give me welfare. I take it.99ｌｉb? Passing Time Your skin like dawn Mine like musk One paints the beginning of a certain end. The other, the end of a sure beginning. Phenomenal Woman Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. Im not cute or built to suit a fashion models size But when I start to tell them, They think Im telling lies. I say, Its in the reay arms The span of m?９９lｉｂ.y hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. Im a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, Thats 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, Its the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. Im a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, Thats me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they t touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still t see. I say, Its in the ary back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The gray style. Im a woman Phenomenally. Phemenal woman, Thats me. Now you uand Just why my heads not bowed. I dont shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. Wh９９lｉb?t>en you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, Its in the cliy heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care, Cause Im a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, Thats me. Refusal Beloved,.9９ｌiｂ. In wh?at other lives or lands Have I known your lips Your Hands Your Laughter brave Irreverent. Those sweet excesses that I do adore. What surety is there That we will meet again, On other worlds some Future time undated. I defy my bodys haste. Without the promise Of one mor藏书网e sweet enter ９9liｂ.I will not deign to die. Remembrance Your hands easy weight, teasing the bees hived in my hair, your smile ９９lｉb?at the slope of my cheek. On the occasion, you press above me, glowing, spouting readiness, mystery rapes my reason When you have withdrawn your self and the magic, when only the smell of your love liers between my breasts, then, only then, I greedily e your presence. Still I Rise You may write me down i history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, Ill rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? Cause I walk like Ive 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 Ill 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? Dont you take it awful hard Cause I laugh like Ive got gold mines Diggin in my own back yard. You may shoot m.e with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, Ill rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it e as a surprise That I dance like Ive got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of historys shame I rise Up from a past thats rooted in pain I rise Im a black o, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear iide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak thats wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my藏书网 aave, I am the dre?９９ｌｉb?am and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. The Detached We die, Weling Bluebeards to our darkening closets, Strao our outstretched necks, Stranglers, who her care nor care to know that DEATH IS INTERNAL. We pray, Sav sweet the teethed lies, Bellying the grounds before alien gods, Gods, who he藏书网r know nor wish to know that HELL IS INTERNAL. We love, Rubbing the naked.nesses with gloved hands, Iing our mouths in tongued kisses, Kis藏书网ses that her touor care to touch if LOVE IS INTERNAL. The Lesson I keep on dying again. Veins collapse, opening like the Small fists of sleeping Children. Memory of old tombs, Rotti9９lib.ng flesh and worms do Not vince me aga?inst The challehe years And cold defeat live deep in Lines along my face. They dull my eyes, yet I keep on dying, Because I love to live. The Rock Cries Out to Us Today A Rock, A River, A Tree Hosts to species long since departed, Mark the mastodon. The dinosaur, who left dry tokens Of their sojourn here On our pla floor, Any broad alarm of their of their hastening doom Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages. But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, e, you may stand upon my Bad face your distainy, But seek no haven in my shadow. I will give you no hiding place down here. You, created only a little lower than The angels, have crouched too long in The bruising darkness, Have lain too long Face down in ignorance. Your mouths spelling words Armed for slaughter. The rock cries out today, you may stand on me, But do not hide your face. Across the wall of the world, A river sings a beautiful song, e rest here by my side. Each of you a bordered p>untry, Delicate and strangely made proud, Yet thrustiually under siege. Your armed struggles for profit Have left collars of waste upon My shore, currents of debris upon my breast. Yet, today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more. e, clad in pead I will sing the songs The Creatave to me whe>n I And the tree and stone were one. Before icism was a bloody sear across your brow And when you yet knew you still knew nothing. The river sings and sings on. There is a true yearning to respond to The singing river and the wise rock. So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew, The Afri and Native Ameri, the Sioux, The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek, The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the teacher. They hear. They all hear The speaking of the tree. Today, the first and last of every tree Speaks to humankind. e to me, here beside the river. Plant yourself beside me, here beside the river. Each of you, desdant of some passed on Traveller, has been paid for. You, who gave me my first name, You Pawnee, Apache and Seneca, You Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, Then forced on bloody feet, Left me to the employment of other seekers-- Desperate fain, starving fold. You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot... You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, Bought,?９９lｉb. sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare Praying for a dream. Here, root yourselves beside me. I am the tree planted by the river, Which will not be moved. I, the rock, I the river, I the tree I am yours--your passages have been paid. Lift up your faces, you have a pierg need For this bright m dawning for you. History, despite its wreng pain, ot be unlived, and if faced with ce, Need not be lived again. Lift up your eyes upon The day breaki９9ｌｉb?ng for you. Give birth again To the dream. Women, children, men, Take it into the palms of your hands. Mold it into the shape of your most Private need. Sculpt it into The image of your most public self. Lift up your hearts. Eaew hour holds new ces For new beginnings. Do not be wedded forever To fear, yoked eternally To brutishness. The horizon leans forward, you space to plaew steps of ge. Here, on the pulse of this fine day You may have the ce To look up and out upon me, The rock, the river, the tree, your try. o Midas than the mendit. o you now than the mastodon then. Here on the pulse of this new day You may have the grace to look up and out And into your sisters eyes, Into your brothers face, your try And say simply Very simply With hope Good m. They Went Home They went home and told their wives, that never on all their lives, had they known a girl like ?99liｂ.me, But... They went home. They said my house was lig 藏书网, no word I spoke was ever mean, I had an air of mystery, But... They went home. My praises were on all mens?９９lib.t> lips, they liked my smile, my wit, my hips, theyd spend one night, or two or three. But... Touched by an Angel We, unaced to ce exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leave９9lｉｂ?s its high holy temple and es intht?９９lib. to liberate us into life. Love arrives and in its train e ecstasies old memories of pleasure a histories of pain. Yet if we are bold, love strikes away the s of fear from our souls. We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of loves light ９9lｉb.we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet i99lｉｂ?t is only love which sets us free. Weekend Glory Some clichty folks dont know the facts, posin and preenin and puttin on acts, stret their backs. They move into dos up over the ranks, pawn their souls to the local banks. Buying big cars they t afford, ridin around town a bored. If they want to learn how to live life right they ought to study ?９9ｌiｂ?me on Saturday night. My job at the plant aint the biggest bet, but I pay my bills and stay out of debt. I get my hair done for my own selfs sake, so I dont have to pick and I dont have to rake. Take the church money out and head cross town to my friend girls house where we plan our round. We meet our men and go to a joint where the music is blue and to the point. Folks write about me. They just t see how I work all week at the factory. The spruced up and laugh and dance And turn away from worry with sassy glance. They accuse me of livin from day to day, but who are they kiddin? So are they. My life aint heaven but it sure aint hell. Im not on top but I call it swell if Im able to work a paid right and have the luck to be Black on a Saturday night. When You Come When you e to me, ..unbidden, Being me To long-ago rooms,bbr>藏书网 Where memories lie. me９9lib., as to a child, an attic, Gatherings of days too few. Baubles of stolen kisses. Tris of borrowed loves. Trunks of secret w９9ｌｉｂ?ords, I CRY. Woman Work Ive got the children to tend The clothes to mend The floor to mop The food to shop Then the chi to fry The baby to dry I got pany to feed The garden to weed Ive got shirts to press The tots to dress The to be cut I gotta up this hut Then see about the ?sick And the cotton to pick. Shine on me, sunshine Rain on me, rain Fall softly, dewdrops And y brow again. Storm, blow me from here With .your fiercest wind Let me float across t.t>he sky Til I rest again. Fall gently, snowflakes Cover me wit９９ｌib.h white Cold icy kisses and Let me rest tonight. Sun, rain, curving sky Mountain, os, leaf and stone Star shine, moon glow Youre all that I call my own.天涯在线书库《www.tianyabook.com》