PRETTY WOMEN WONDER WHERE MY SECRET LIES.
I'M NOT CUTE OR BUILT TO SUIT
A FASHION MODEL'S 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 STEP,
THE CURL OF MY LIPS.
I'M A WOMAN
PHENOMENALLY.
PHENOMENAL WOMAN,
THAT'S ME….
(Maya Angelou, 1928-2014)
"Phenomenal Woman" is one of my all time favorite poems. Whenever I start missing and mourning the body and face of my youth, I try to recall these words. They make me want to stop complaining about my thighs and my teeth and my skin. They make me appreciate the sturdiness of my legs, the bite I can take of an apple, the shine in my eyes, the sound of my laughter. They make me want to throw my shoulders back, smile big, and strut whatever stuff I still have going for me.
Let's be proud of our bodies, our minds, our spirits. We are all phenomenal beings. Let's act like it!
SO TRUE. We get so caught up on appearances that we miss the substance. Ms. Angelou was such a wise soul...
ReplyDeleteLove this part of your comment, OE - "we miss the substance." So true! And I think we miss it in ourselves as well as in others.
DeleteShe was fabulous, wasn't she. Her ability to share wisdom in such a beautiful way. I was never a pixie, so that fashion model thing hasn't been on the table since I was about 11. Tall enough, sure, but always a pear. It was always reassuring when somebody like this would give permission for that.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right about her ability to share wisdom. And I hear you about receiving "permission" to accept ourselves. :)
DeleteI hadn't actually read that poem before. I can see why it's one of your all-time favorites. Like Hart says, Maya was fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to include the entire poem but it was too long for this post, so I linked over to it. The first stanza is my favorite part anyway. :)
DeleteShe said it all! SD
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sandradanby.com/
I agree! :)
DeleteThat is a great poem. Thank you for sharing it. We all feel inadequate, no matter how we look. But we have to learn to find value in who we are inside. Maya Angelou got that. She was an amazing woman.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it, Stephanie. I think it's important to realize we all feel inadequate at some point - it's something we all have in common. :)
DeleteI was really sad to read about Maya Angelou's death. I admire her so! Love this poem and so many of her other works. Still I Rise gives me chills.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I now want to go back and read or re-read her work.
DeleteGood to see you back in the blogosphere, Julie! :)
I love that poem! Maya Angelou knew how to embody spirit in her words. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Tyrean. :)
DeleteA great woman speaking for all of us, expressing better than we could.
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteI love this empowering post. We put too much stock in our appearance and not enough on our spirit.
ReplyDeleteI'm aiming for strong, healthy and attractive - in both mind and body. :)
DeleteIt's a good aim :)
DeleteI love this! LOVE! Every single word of it and it's so true. Thank you for the positive thoughts and motivation!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! :)
DeleteIt's an important message for all women. Her words will have an impact for many years to come.
ReplyDeleteI really hope so, Annalisa.
DeleteOh, yes!!!!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteInspiring woman! Check out byrdwords.wordpress.com for a lovely testimonial. Thanks for reminding me of this piece.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome for the reminder. :)
DeleteBeautiful poem by a wise woman. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
She really was wise, and she expressed that wisdom so elegantly, so beautifully.
DeleteThanks for the blitz!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I bet you got a lot of re-visits from your regular commenters. :)
Deleteeasy to say, hard to do... i was never vain or gorgeous, but i have some real downer days - i try to stay away from mirrors on those days! my mind is still young and fresh at least!
ReplyDeletethanks for the inspiration =)
I've had those downer days myself. But having a young, fresh mind is really what's important anyway. :)
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