Her Voice

Maya Angelou 1928-2014

Nothing is permanent
except perhaps that voice
that rose like pure unadulterated air
beyond the pale of all tomorrows.

She breathed in a spiritual essence and
exhaled words etched with attitude,
imbued with a certitude that just being could
be stone cold but also light, so light,

that the dust left after
life's grinding and pummeling
would drift into the atmosphere,
pushed by the winds of strength

propelled by her lyrical prose
that spoke to the broken parts of all of us,
smoothing the edges with the graceful
unbowed cadence of her eternal dignity.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

she had such grace, such dignity, such words...

beautiful tribute to one of the most peaceful rocks we have ever had to lean on...her words got us through such turbulent times...she was stern and gentle all in one.

Maya, and Gwendolyn...two of the really class acts in poetic society.

thanks for this, Anne.

i miss your words when they are not around.
jacob

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for those words jacob. They mean a lot. Love Gwendolyn too...my favorite poem of hers is We Real Cool. It's a sad day to lose such a vibrant and strong talent. She spoke with just eloquence and style. She will be missed. Thank you again.

[icelandicblue]

I meant such eloquence...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i knew what you meant...and yes, "we real cool"

in my lit class that is the first poem i teach my students because it has the four elements that make poetry different from prose....length of line, sound, rhythm and compression...all so well combined...
interesting too, when that poem first came out, it was banned in high schools...they couldn't teach it because they said it promoted bad behavior...good grief.

and it was interesting when Gwendolyn said why she wrote it...she saw seven kids standing outside a pool hall in Harvey Illinois...and had no idea whether they were off school legitimately or not...and didn't know what they were doing...it just struck her and gave her the idea for a poem...all the more reason not to try to figure out the poet, but just enjoy the poem and see what we see as readers..Gwendolyn was also a beautiful person...i got to see her speak three times...once at john a. logan where i teach and twice at SIU...each time she stayed after for hours and signed books and talked to each one of us as she did...she won the pullitzer the year i was born...she and i had a good laugh over that...she asked me if i read the notices that she was going to get it...i said no, that i was still inside my mother...

i only wish i had also had the chance to meet Maya...i am sure she would have been as sweet one on one...

[icelandicblue]

Wow jacob...you've certainly expanded my poetic horizons. How wonderful that you met Gwendolyn Brooks. I know you must be one fantastic teacher.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really love it!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and i have also gotten so much great inspiration from my old professors and from meeting such people as Gwendolyn Brooks...she was so kind and down to earth...lovely person...
with such inspiration...the path gets clearer and easier to follow.

[Ruth]

Stunning dedication! You have woven a graceful ode to a beautiful soul x

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Poppy. I appreciate it.

[Vidya Bacchus]

A wonderful tribute to an outstanding poet. Miss Angelou was a gift we got to share for a while.Her words full of wisdom.Truly a great pen Blue :)

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Vidya.

[Aethereal]

When a caged bird sings her sweet song, her essence takes flight to freedom on her voice. Life's a cage.

[MsJewel]

A wonderful tribute to an amazing poet. A beautiful, beautiful poem!

:) Julie

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Julie. You are so very kind.

[Muse]

I did not know this person, and I'm not familiar with her work. Was she on the cafe? Can you link me to her stuff. Your beautifully written tribute makes me want to read her, or at least pay my respects to her. I always thought writers like yourself had a way of immortalizing such inspiration. Thank you Anne for sharing.

[icelandicblue]

She was a poet and author- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I've included a link so that you can read about her life and there are two poems there- one of my favorites is Rise. If you like those poems just google her name http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/maya-angelou

[Muse]

Thank you. I will do that, I am now curious.

[David Scott]

You penned a worthy tribute to a great lady and a genius poet.
I could not agree more.

[icelandicblue]

Hi David,

Thank so very much. Nice to see you.

[Girl With A Pen]

Beautiful poem and a wonderful tribute

[icelandicblue]

I appreciate that, thank you.

[A. Amos]

Poignant subject you picked and you wrote elegantly every single verse is true, the world need more writers like you and same time the whole world should read your work...you paid her an elegant tribute...keep up the good work. Respect!

[icelandicblue]

She was a force of nature...I am a mere breeze, but contentedly so. Thank you so much A.

[A. Amos]

Honor and pleasure is all mine...

[Frieda P]

Ahh your poetry is a grand tribute to her memory, and your lyrical words speak to us also...as always a poignant, intelligent and captivating read from your pen Anne. I've missed your words & you muchly.

[icelandicblue]

Frieda! I have miss you so much!!! Thank you for reading. It's good to see you. ; )

[Frieda P]

Awh, this just warmed my heart, always a pleasure Anne! :-)

[emmajoy]

'.. with the graceful unbowed cadence of her eternal dignity'

In spite of your entire poem being a wonderfully sincere tribute to Maya Angelou, those few words above say it all. You have a subtle way of saying so much in the gentlest tone - this is no exception, tis more than appropriate. Thank you, thank you!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Emma and I do think if you had to distill her essence to one word it would be dignified.