8 inspiring poems by Maya Angelou

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” In this, it seems that Maya Angelou knew about the eternity and infinity of herself and her works. In a way, she was prophesizing her own future and destiny. Today, on her 92nd birth anniversary, Angelou and her numerous works are still fresh and crisp with us. Her sassiness, courage, zeal and liveliness still serve as inspiration to not only women, but also men across the world.

In her literary career, Angelou penned almost 50 books of poetry. Her poems emerged out of her own personal experiences as a young adult working as fry cook, sex worker, night club dancer, performer and later, a journalist. She was respected as a spokesperson for black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of black culture. Majority of her works center on themes such as racism, identity, family and travel.

Here are 8 inspiring poems by Maya Angelou!

The poem describes the contrasting experiences between two birds: one bird is able to live in nature as it pleases, while a different caged bird grieves in captivity. Through this, Angelou paints a critical portrait of oppression and conveys the simultaneous experience of suffering and emotional resilience.

The poem asserts that human beings can change for the better. It also stresses that, working with Nature (rock, river and tree) and learning from the past can lead to great things being accomplished despite all differences.

The poem is an assertion of the dignity and resilience of marginalized people (particularly women) in the face of oppression. Angelou often wrote about blackness and black womanhood, so it can also be read more specifically as a critique of anti-black racism.

The poem is a lyrical one and sends out an important message to the world of stereotypes: empowerment comes from being confident in your own female skin, no matter if you are not seen as cute or fashionable by the masses.

The poem is an interesting one which tells about a little girl’s experience and her sexual intercourse at a young age. She used to be curious about men and watched them almost every day. She knew that men noticed her. However, one day the men raped her and left her with lifelong wounds.

The poem deals with togetherness by placing emphasis on being alone; which is an irony. It is a reflection on what it is to be a human and out there in the big wide world. It is a calling to society to come together as one.

The poem identifies with all who have felt the deep searing pain of losing someone close. Angelou is able to not only effectively identify with the feeling of deep loss and anguish but is also able to offer hope for healing through her powerful words.

The poem deals with equality, racism and discrimination which are conveyed through the use of repetition and metaphors. The phrase “equality and I will be free” is repeated again and again. This emphasizes that all Angelou wants is to be free from racism and wants everyone to be equal.