Creative Writing Saturday

Maya Angelou

Cover of Maya Angelou

Thank You, Lord

I see You
Brown-skinned,
Neat Afro,
Full lips,
A little goatee.
A Malcolm,
Martin,
Du Bois.
Sunday services become sweeter when you’re Black,
Then I don’t have to explain why
I was out balling the town down,
Saturday night.

Thank you, Lord
I want to thank you, Lord
For life and all that’s in it.
Thank You for the day
And for the hour and for the minute.
I know many are gone,
I’m still living on,
I want to thank You.

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.

Some thought because they’d seen sunrise
They’d see it rise again.
But death crept into their sleeping beds
And took them by the hand.
Because of Your mercy,
I have another day to live.

Let me humbly say,
Thank you for this day
I want to thank You.

I was once a sinner man,
Living unsaved and wild,
Taking my chances in a dangerous world,
Putting my soul on trial.
Because of Your mercy,
Falling down on me like rain,
Because of Your mercy,
Falling down on me like rain,
Because of Your mercy,
When I die I’ll live again,
Let me humbly say,
Thank You for this day.
I want to thank You. ~ Maya Angelou

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A Thought For Your Day

Two falling stars in the day sky.

Two falling stars in the day sky. (Photo credit: Nick Kenrick .)

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it–Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.  ~ Goethe

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A Phenomenal Woman

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Although there are many of her poems that I love, this is my favorite poem written by award-winning United States poet Maya Angelou. She died today at the age of 86. Her work has influenced the work of many poets. May she rest in peace.

 

STILL I RISE

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve 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 I’ll 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?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

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.

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?

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.
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. ~ Maya Angelou

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Quote Tuesday

English: Smile

English: Smile (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” ~ Thich Nath Hanh

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