Phenomenal Woman
Project 365, Day 59/365
Rabbit, rabbit! March 1 marks the first day of Women’s History Month and immediately my mind went to the wonderful poem “Phenomenal Woman” by the truly phenomenal Dr. Maya Angelou. As I spent the weekend writing thousands of words for others (I took on a few freelance projects) and am a bit tapped out, I thought I’d share her words here instead of my own, to an audience of phenomenal women. The poem takes on a whole new life when you hear it recited. You can hear that here from the lips of Dr. Angelou. I also quite enjoy Oprah’s version.
It’s the last stanza that really moves me the most, but you need all the rest of it to build you up to that point. Women are amazing creatures…WE ARE AMAZING CREATURES. Thank you Maya Angelou for bringing this poem to life. I hope to share many stories of the phenomenal women that have impacted my life this month and beyond, and I encourage you to share in the comments, as you always do so beautifully, about the women that have shaped you.
Phenomenal Woman
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.
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 in 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 of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
See you tomorrow, friends.