phenomenal woman

When i was in elementary school i got to sit on the floor before Maya Angelou and hear her tell the story of Two White Horses.  i didn’t move, the tone of her voice the pause between words, i was entranced.  i loved the idea of story telling.  not to be immodest, but i am a good speaker (it worked well for me in law school moot court).  but, it never occurred to me that I could be a “real” story teller when i grew up.  but that is something else all together.  so, i found “Phenomenal Woman” and i can just hear her voice in my mind and picture the way she would look, how she would use her hands if i were once again sitting in front of her, listening to her strong voice.  So, as you read this i hope you can hear the strength, power and pride along with the words.

under the same moon and stars, 

ibs

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.

~Maya Angelou