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Tuesday 5 April 2016

M stands for Maya, MAYA Angelou.

Maya Angelou.

Maya is one of my favourite American writers.


 To label her 'just a writer'  really does her an injustice;  whilst, indeed it is admirable in  being a renown author , Maya Angelou is even more than 'just a writer', she was a playwright, performer, actress and composer. 



She has written and appeared in many plays and films being nominated an Emmy for her role in the 1977 movie Roots.

Maya Angelou was active in The Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King and was widely respected as a spokesperson for black people.


 In 1993 she was invited by President Bill Clinton to write and read the first inaugural poem. Americans all across the country watched as she read;

 On The Pulse of Morning.



A rock, A river,  A Tree

 Hosts to species long since departed,

 Marked the mastodon,

 The dinosaur, who left dried tokens

 On their sojourn here On our planet floor,

 Any broad alarm of their hastening doom

 Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.

But today,  the Rock cries out to us, clearly,  forcefully,

Come, you stand upon my Back and face your distant destiny,

 But seek no haven in my shadow,

 I will give you no hiding place down here.

 You created only a little lower than

 The angels, have crouched too long in

 The bruising darkness

 Have lain too long Face down in ignorance,

 Your mouths spilling words

 Armed for slaughter. The Rock cries out to us today

 You may stand upon me But do not hide your face :



AS this oration is rather long for me to quote here please just Google  Maya Angelou, 'On the Pulse of Morning' .There is also an recording on U tube of the actual inauguration and  the moving speech by Maya Angelou.

She concluded her address in this last verse saying:


"Here on the pulse of this new day 

 You may have the grace to look up and out

 And into your sister's eyes, and into

 Your brother's face, Your country and say simply

very simply

 With hope - Good Morning".



. In this last verse I feel she was challenging the new administration and all Americans to work together for progress.


My sincere thanks to the Marvellous Mrs Nesbitt, Denise..for devisising ABCW and also to the Munificent Roger for doing what he does in such a Malleable Manner .Also the team of Matchless assistants who help with the weekly visit to all the other ABCW' s sites.

Best wishes.
Di.
ABCW team.

 


31 comments:

  1. I've never heard about this writer before, but I searched in the web and found a book in German, will read it, thanks for this post.
    About the South I've just read in two books by Penelope Williamson...
    Greetings from Germany

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Mascha, good to hear from you I hope you enjoy your book, this is the beauty of ABCW, we learn so much from each other.
      best wishes,
      Di.
      ABCW team.

      Delete
  2. Maya does have a very special way with words.
    I really like the end of the poem...hope and Good Morning....
    I wish that for our country now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Her truth and sincerity inspires me most,
      thanks for your comments,
      Di x

      Delete
  3. Maya is great with poetry, which is very beautiful and impressive!
    Wil, ABCW Team

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed Wil, where would we be with such inspiring writers, the world would be a very dull place.
      Di..xx

      Delete
  4. I don't know her but i like your tribute!

    Have a nice abc-wednesday-day / - week
    ♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)

    ReplyDelete
  5. A passionate choice for the letter M...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ellen, most poet are people who stimulate their their passions through their writing.
      Incidentally, I've managed to source the 'Mennonite Girls Can Cook' book so Sit waiting patiently waiting for postman to knock !
      Di. xx

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. It's divine Roger, she was such a charismatic person with many talents.
      Di. xx

      Delete
  7. Maya Angelou is one of my all time favorite writers. I was blessed to be able hear her speak in person (front row) at an Episcopal School Conference I attended several years ago. She had such a powerful presence and speaking voice. May she rest in peace. Thank you for keeping her legacy alive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How wonderful to hear her speak in person Arnoldo, such an inspiring lady.

      Di. xx

      Delete
  8. What a wonderful tribute to this wonderful woman. Although I haven't read much of her poetry, I did read her book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and was overwhelmed at how positive her outlook on life is, considering her childhood.

    Leslie
    abcw team

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was going to write about her renown book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" but ran out of steam !
      love Di x

      Delete
  9. I agree she is amazing - thanks for bringing this to us Di. How are you? XX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi FP,
      So good to hear from you, hope you've recovered from you flu....
      Glad you enjoyed reading about one of my heroines.
      I'm keeping well now thanks x
      Di.xx

      Delete
  10. Her poetry is translated in our language too..Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Murthy,
      good to learn that Maya's work is translated into your language. thanks for stopping by.
      Di. xx

      Delete
  11. I love her as well.
    I have two tattoos, one is; 'I know why the caged bird sings', and one is; 'Still I Rise'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well!
      To have two tatoos of Maya's works is quite a tribute to her,
      Thanks for stopping by,
      Best wishes,
      Di x

      Delete
  12. She was quite an inspiration.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true Ann, I am going to research more about her,
      she was such an enigmatic person so watch this space...
      Good to hear from you again,
      Di xx

      Delete
  13. a poet, wins my admiration. Great that Clinton gave her recognition.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes for all his misdemeanours,
    he did have an intellectual leaning, after all, he was
    an Oxford scholar... such a waste of a good mind!
    Thanks for stopping by it's always good to hear from you.

    Best wishes,
    Di.x
    ABCW team.

    ReplyDelete
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