I have a profound love for Maya Angelou. When she passed away, I was overcome with sadness.

I don't typically have a penchant for reading poetry, but Maya Angelou's work was an exception. I adored her creations and was captivated whenever I heard her recite her own work.

As I was reading this particular piece, I could vividly imagine Ms. Angelou standing there, reciting it in her beautiful, deep voice that was filled with so much character.

Her poetry encompassed a wide range of subjects, from the rights of a people and gender equality to spiritual beliefs. It was truly beautiful.

Each word she wrote and spoke had the power to touch the hearts and souls of those who listened or read. Maya Angelou's legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

We die,

welcoming Bluebeards to our darkening closets,

stranglers to our outstretched necks.

\\n  stranglers who neither care
nor care to know that
Death is internal\\n

We all face the inevitable end, that moment when life ceases to be. In this passage, it vividly describes how we seem to passively accept the approach of those who bring harm and destruction. Bluebeards, with their menacing reputation, enter our closets which are already darkening, perhaps symbolizing the hidden and unknown aspects of our lives. Stranglers come to our outstretched necks, ready to choke the life out of us. These stranglers are callous, not caring about the consequences of their actions or bothering to understand the true nature of death. They are oblivious to the fact that Death is internal, that it is not just an external event but something that affects us on a deeper, more profound level. It makes us question our own mortality and the meaning of our existence.

There were certain poems that I truly enjoyed reading, while there were others that didn't quite resonate with me.

However, one thing that I can clearly recognize is just how extremely talented Maya Angelou is.

Her poems are truly incredible and smart, filled with deep emotions and profound insights.

Even if they're not always in a style that I personally prefer, I can still appreciate the beauty and artistry within them.

This happens to be the first poetry book that I think I've ever read, and I firmly believe that it was a great introduction to the world of poetry.

It has opened my eyes to the power and versatility of this literary form, and has made me eager to explore more works by other poets as well.

I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to experience Maya Angelou's poetry and look forward to seeing where this newfound interest takes me.

His lidless eye slid sideways,

and he rose into my deepest yearning,

bringing gifts of ready rhythms,

and hourly wound around my chest,

holding me fast in taut security.

Then, glistening like diamonds strewn upon a black girl's belly,

he left me. And nothing remains.

Beneath my left breast, two perfect identical punctures,

through which I claim the air I breathe and the slithering sound of my own skin moving in the dark.

I've had this collection for three years. At the end of each year, I always find myself revisiting it. And every single year, I discover something new within the words I've already read. This collection addresses so many profound themes and gives a voice to so many experiences. It goes far beyond being just a simple poetry collection. It's a complex and multi-layered exploration of the human condition, emotions, and the mysteries of life. It makes me reflect on my own existence and the world around me in ways I never thought possible. Each poem is like a precious gem, waiting to be unearthed and admired for its unique beauty and depth.

\\n  \\"I've seen all the wonders of the world
I haven't seen another human just like me\\"\\n (p. 117)

Didn't these lines of Nilgün Marmara come to your mind?
\\n  \\"Oh, two-step earth
I've seen all your backyards
I!\\"\\n (Nilgün Marmara - Poems Drawn to the Dactyl, p.164)

Yes, although these poems are similar in expression, they are both reflections of very different emotions. I love both of them very much.

Maya Angelou, in her life full of sorrows, sorrows that I don't even have the strength to write about here, has produced extremely wonderful poems. Some of them affected me especially. I will dwell on them.

The first one is this;
\\n  \\"On a bright day, next week
Just before the bomb falls
Just before the world ends
Just before I die\\"\\n (p. 36)

The original of this poem is like this:
\\n  \\"On a bright day, next week
Just before the bomb falls
Just before the world ends
Just before I die\\"\\n *

Now, the thing that catches my attention the most in these lines is the expression \\"before the world ends\\". Some critics (e.g. Bloom, Lynn Z.) say that in this poem, the \\"survival\\" situation experienced by the blacks is being tried to be told.
However, I sense a much more mystical atmosphere in this poem. The thought that a person's death is his own resurrection comes to my mind.

The atmosphere drawn in the continuation of this poem is an extremely \\"apocalyptic\\" atmosphere. With the addition of the oppression and pain experienced by the blacks to the meaning of man in the cosmos, the final situation where the pains turn into a single pain. Remember the question \\"but why pain? why?\\" in Tolstoy's work The Death of Ivan Ilyich.

When you look at the poem titled \\"The Passing Time\\" on page 47, the strange and mysterious transformation in which the duality between black and white is replaced by life and death will attract your attention.
\\n  \\"One tells of the beginning
Of an absolute end

The other, of reaching the end
Of a certain beginning\\"\\n (p. 47)

Now, how can we explain this situation? There is nothing but the post-traumatic atmosphere created here. I think Angelou has turned the sharp dichotomy between human life and death into a philosophical theme between the lines.

It is necessary not to interpret each of Angelou's poems through the prism of the oppression applied to the blacks. Her poems are fed by extremely diverse philosophical themes. Above all, a very strong humanism is felt in her poems.

\\n  \\"Here, let me take root beside you
I am the tree that the river planted
No one can uproot me from my place
I am the Stone, I am the River, I am the Tree\\"\\n (p. 146)

M. Baran
20.03.2021
Ankara


Maya Angelou, The Complete Poems of Maya Angelou, Random House, New York, p. 30

Published here:
https://agacingovdesi.com/2021/03/20/...

Pure beauty is a concept that has intrigued and inspired people throughout history. It represents a state of unadulterated grace, charm, and allure that is free from any artificial or distracting elements.

Pure beauty can be found in nature, in the delicate petals of a flower, the majestic mountains, or the clear blue sky. It can also be seen in the human form, in a genuine smile, a kind heart, or a soulful gaze.

True pure beauty goes beyond physical appearance and encompasses inner qualities such as kindness, compassion, and authenticity. It is a beauty that radiates from within and has the power to touch the hearts and souls of those who encounter it.

In a world filled with chaos and imperfection, pure beauty serves as a reminder of the simple and profound joys that life has to offer. It invites us to slow down, appreciate the present moment, and find beauty in the most unexpected places.

Whether we are admiring a beautiful sunset, listening to a piece of music, or simply spending time with a loved one, pure beauty has the ability to uplift our spirits and bring us a sense of peace and contentment.

Many of the songs hit really heavy, as if they carried a profound weight within them. The melodies and lyrics seemed to have the power to touch the deepest emotions of the listeners. Some of these songs even had a certain charm that made them feel like old favorites. They had that familiar quality that could transport you back in time,唤起 memories of past experiences and feelings. It was as if these songs had a life of their own, existing beyond the boundaries of the present moment. Whether it was the intense energy of the heavy hits or the comforting familiarity of the songs that felt like old ones, they all had a unique impact on those who heard them.

In the times we live in, this is such an important read and there is so much more to it.

I truly love that through poetry, we not only have the opportunity to get to know the author on a literary level but also the woman behind the words. It gives us a deeper understanding and connection.

This particular piece has encouraged me to explore and read more black stories and poetry. It has opened my eyes to a whole new world of experiences and perspectives.

It is without a doubt a MUST READ! It has the power to touch your heart, expand your mind, and make you appreciate the beauty and significance of different voices and cultures. So don't miss out on this wonderful literary gem.

You were the image of everything that caused me to sing. Your presence was like a beautiful melody that filled my heart with joy and inspiration. Every time I saw you, it was as if a new song was born within me. The way you smiled, the way you moved, it all had a profound impact on my creativity. You were the muse that I had always been searching for, the one who could bring out the best in me as a singer. I felt so lucky to have you in my life, and I knew that as long as you were there, my music would continue to flow and touch the hearts of others.

Dare I say the greatest poet of all time? I would have to say it is Maya Angelou. I love this woman and all of her works. She was an incredibly talented and inspiring poet. One of her most famous works is "Phenomenal Woman". In this poem, she celebrates the beauty and strength of women. She writes about how a woman's beauty is not just on the outside, but also on the inside. She is a woman who is confident in herself and her abilities. "Phenomenal Woman" is a powerful and empowering poem that has touched the hearts of many people. It is a celebration of womanhood and a reminder that every woman is special and unique.

I think there is no better title to represent this collection. It is Maya Angelou before "becoming poetry". Her life is in these verses, in these pains, losses, gains and happinesses.

It is amazing to see how much they took from her, yet she still resists and writes lines like "Hope spreads across the land, illuminating all things. Even hate, which creeps through the dark corridors."

It is a favorite without even having to think much. I hope I can read everything she has written as soon as possible.

Her works are like a mirror that reflects the complexity and beauty of life. Through her words, we can feel her strength, her courage, and her unwavering belief in the power of hope. Each line is a gem, shining with the light of her wisdom and experience.

Maya Angelou's poetry is not only a form of art, but also a source of inspiration and comfort. It has the ability to touch our hearts, to make us think, and to move us to action. I am truly grateful to have discovered her works and look forward to exploring more of her literary treasures in the future.

Sacrilegious to give this less than 5 stars, I know. However, the problem lies in the fact that the collection is perhaps a little too complete. It encompasses a wide range, from the stunningly insightful and the hauntingly melodic to the embarrassingly adolescent. And unfortunately, not all of the adolescent material is from her early days.

Greyday

The day hangs heavy, loose and grey when you're away. A crown of thorns, a shirt of hair is what I wear. No one knows my lonely heart when we're apart. I don't care if this is about mooning over a missing lover or a loss of faith, it's just awful. We all have such moments as poets, but someone should have known better than to let her include this in a collection. And it's not the only piece like that.

Then again, earlier than this sorry sniffle, we have On Working White Liberals. I don't ask the Foreign Legion or anyone to win my freedom or to fight my battle better than I can. Though there's one thing that I cry for, I believe enough to die for, that is every man's responsibility to man. I'm afraid they'll have to prove first that they'll watch the Black man move first and then follow him with faith to kingdom come. This rock road is not paved for us, so, I'll believe in Liberals' aid for us when I see a white man load a Black man's gun.

Wow. See what she did there? And you wonder why those fat white Republican men in Congress say she's controversial.

And the plain beauty of this piece, This Winter Day. The kitchen is its readiness, white green and orange things leak their blood selves in the soup. Ritual sacrifice that snaps an odor at my nose and starts my tongue to march, slipping in the liquid of its drip. The day, silver striped in rain, is balked against my window and the soup.

Of course, all the famous clarion calls are in here too, but you know those already. You'll discover a plethora of sides to Angelou that you may not have known in this collection.