Angelou was well into her stride as a writer by now. The collection And Still I Rise is Maya Angelou's third volume of poetry, and was first published in 1978. And they are not always "easy" to read, in any sense of the word. These are not all "feel-good" poems by any means. Some have more variant forms, jerky spasmodic rhythms, elusive and sensual language. "And Still I Rise" has been called an anthem for the entire black race.īut some poems are significantly darker and embittered. Many women have felt a personal connection, or significance, saying that one such poem speaks to them - that it is their own experience. These are accessible to those who may not regularly read poetry. Her much-lauded "Phenomenal Woman", "Woman Work" and the title poem for this collection, "And Still I Rise" all conform to this type. Sometimes the language used is direct and repetitive. There is diversity much variation of mood and style. She does speak to the people she speaks to aspects of humanity we all have within us. Would Maya Angelou's poetry turn out to be over-simplistic rhetoric, or sanctimonious versifying? After all, her poetry is thought to be populist, and has not received much serious critical attention. Although by the time this collection had been published, Maya Angelou had received over thirty honorary degrees from colleges and universities all over the world, there is a lurking suspicion that this is for the person herself her overcoming of almost unimaginable hardships, plus her achievements in society and the legislative progress, rather than strictly academic prowess. I must admit to being apprehensive at the start. So what is her poetry actually like? The word "inspirational" is bandied around today to include all sort of cant and twaddle. The world lost a remarkable influential figure when she died. Maya Angelou is an inspirational figure, admired the world over for her sensitivity, passion, and advocacy of black rights she was a vigorous activist, especially with regard to women. I am the dream and the hope of the slave. She began, early in her writing career, alternating the publication of an autobiography and a volume of poetry.Īlthough her poetry collections have been best-sellers, they have not received serious critical attention.Īnd Still I Rise consists of 32 poems, divided into three parts:īringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, It was published during one of the most productive periods in Angelou's career she had written three autobiographies and published two other volumes of poetry up to that point.Īngelou considered herself a poet and a playwright, but was best known for her seven autobiographies, especially her first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, although her poetry has also been successful. And Still I Rise is author Maya Angelou's third volume of poetry, published by Random House in 1978.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |