Sunday, June 1, 2014

MINDSET & MOTIVATION MONDAYS ~ MAYA ANGELOU

The first time I remember experiencing the death of a loved one is when I was about 3 years old. My father's grandmother passed away and we attended her funeral. I remember being there. Since then I have experienced other loved ones die and countless famous people.

For some reason when I learned of Maya Angelou's transition I was truly affected. I felt a piece of energy lost here on earth, I truly did. It moved me so I tweeted and made a FaceBook post about it.

So in honor of Maya Angelou and Mindset & Motivation Mondays I would be remiss to have this day without recognizing a truly Phenomenal Woman!

Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod 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.