Phenomenal Women

One of my all time favorite poems in the entire world is "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou. I positively want to live my life according to that poem. I strive to be the kind of woman the poem describes.

Let me preach to the choir for a moment since I know everyone already is aware of how FABULOUS Ms. Angelou is... Ms. Angelou has led quite a challenging life and overcome various harsh situations, AND she handles all of it with such grace and wisdom and patience and gratitude for life's blessings. She plain ol' rocks and I adore her writing!!! So, in honor of Maya Angelou, as well as the woman whom she describes in her awesome poem -- whom I strive to be each day -- read on and enjoy Ms. A's fantastic literary talents.

Phenomenal Woman
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a model's fashion 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 steps
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 of my waist
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 for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.