Her Voice

Maya Angelou 1928-2014

Nothing is permanent
except perhaps that voice
that rose like pure unadulterated air
beyond the pale of all tomorrows.

She breathed in a spiritual essence and
exhaled words etched with attitude,
imbued with a certitude that just being could
be stone cold but also light, so light,

that the dust left after
life's grinding and pummeling
would drift into the atmosphere,
pushed by the winds of strength

propelled by her lyrical prose
that spoke to the broken parts of all of us,
smoothing the edges with the graceful
unbowed cadence of her eternal dignity.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

she had such grace, such dignity, such words...

beautiful tribute to one of the most peaceful rocks we have ever had to lean on...her words got us through such turbulent times...she was stern and gentle all in one.

Maya, and Gwendolyn...two of the really class acts in poetic society.

thanks for this, Anne.

i miss your words when they are not around.
jacob

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for those words jacob. They mean a lot. Love Gwendolyn too...my favorite poem of hers is We Real Cool. It's a sad day to lose such a vibrant and strong talent. She spoke with just eloquence and style. She will be missed. Thank you again.

[icelandicblue]

I meant such eloquence...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i knew what you meant...and yes, "we real cool"

in my lit class that is the first poem i teach my students because it has the four elements that make poetry different from prose....length of line, sound, rhythm and compression...all so well combined...
interesting too, when that poem first came out, it was banned in high schools...they couldn't teach it because they said it promoted bad behavior...good grief.

and it was interesting when Gwendolyn said why she wrote it...she saw seven kids standing outside a pool hall in Harvey Illinois...and had no idea whether they were off school legitimately or not...and didn't know what they were doing...it just struck her and gave her the idea for a poem...all the more reason not to try to figure out the poet, but just enjoy the poem and see what we see as readers..Gwendolyn was also a beautiful person...i got to see her speak three times...once at john a. logan where i teach and twice at SIU...each time she stayed after for hours and signed books and talked to each one of us as she did...she won the pullitzer the year i was born...she and i had a good laugh over that...she asked me if i read the notices that she was going to get it...i said no, that i was still inside my mother...

i only wish i had also had the chance to meet Maya...i am sure she would have been as sweet one on one...

[icelandicblue]

Wow jacob...you've certainly expanded my poetic horizons. How wonderful that you met Gwendolyn Brooks. I know you must be one fantastic teacher.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really love it!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and i have also gotten so much great inspiration from my old professors and from meeting such people as Gwendolyn Brooks...she was so kind and down to earth...lovely person...
with such inspiration...the path gets clearer and easier to follow.

[Pryde Foltz]

smoothing the edges with the graceful
unbowed cadence of her eternal dignity.

So it should be for all. Most wonderful writing.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Pryde for your kind words.

[Stephen]

It`s a great tribute you`ve given/shown to her penning down this beautiful poem. Great job!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Stephen.

[Baby Ricochet]

A beautiful tribute to an incredible human being. We lost a treasure when we lost her.

[icelandicblue]

That is so very true, she was a jewel. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

You know I honestly didn't know much about her till today, but now that I have learned so much about all she was I find this such a delightfully fitting tribute.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Dale. I was first exposed to her work in high school when we read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. She was an incredible talent. Thank you for your kind comment.

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

You are very welcome.

[Bright Ocean Star]

Oh, so sweetly worded exceptionality....I can hear her reading this and it is wonderful, indeed. What a fabulous tribute to an incredibly gifted woman. Thank you for sharing this with us, Ice. It will stay with me all night long.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much for such a lovely comment.

[Rita L. Sev]

...that voice
that rose like pure unadulterated air
beyond the pale of all tomorrows.

I feel like you and I (and so many others) have been sharing these thoughts today. Your tribute paints a vivid portrait of an incomparable Poet!

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Rita...we are definitely mourning the loss of a most inspiring poet. So many of the "big" poets were dead before we were old enough to read them. We were lucky to live and enjoy her in real time.

[redflutterby]

Sigh....my heart has been heavy all day. I loved her voice and her laugh...so deep and rich. When she spoke you just felt your soul tingle. Her words were amazing...uplifting...bold...honest...not an ounce of pretention. She will be missed by so many. Your poem is a fitting tribute Anne...

Missed you!

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Red. Good to see you too. She was one amazing talented woman. My poem is but a ghost of a tribute but I felt compelled to write it. I wanted to acknowledge her in some way on this day.

[redflutterby]

Your words reflected her well hun. ;-)

[s y e]

A fantastic tribute to an outstanding woman. Who better to write something for her than you Anne, you blew me away with this one. She was an amazing woman, a very talented poet.

[icelandicblue]

Hi Noodle,

Love the glasses and thanks so much. She really was an extraordinary woman.

[s y e]

Thanks Anne, sorry I haven't been round much, it's been hectic, promise to be round soon.
read moreThanks Anne, sorry I haven't been round much, it's been hectic, promise to be round soon.

She really was extraordinary.

[icelandicblue]

I too have not been around much but it's nice to connect with you again.

[s y e]

Same goes with you... How have you been?