A Phenomenal Woman

I'm not a poet but I love poetry. When Seamus Heaney died last year, I began to read a little more of his work but have barely scratched the surface. I didn't even take English Literature at school, which  looking back is shameful and I often feel its lack in my ignorance of well known classics.

And that's just the Irish and English classics, never mind the work of American poets and writers like the amazing Maya Angelou who died just the other day. Even I have been aware of her tremendous impact as a black, female American poet, writer and civil rights activist, but it was only yesterday that I stumbled upon her poem 'Phenomenal Woman' for the first time and just thought YES! YES! YES!

This poem spoke to me because even though I know I've a long way to go, I knew that it's how I'd love to feel and think and be-  strong and confident from the inside out, just as she was.

So thank you Ms Angelou  for your inspiring, empowering, beautiful words-you truly were a phenomenal woman. May you rest in peace Xxx

Phenomenal Woman.

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 in my walk
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.