Maya Angelou
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.
1. Discuss the following questions.
1) Is jealousy very controversial among all women?
2) In Lines 30-31, Maya Angelou states, “men themselves have wondered what they see in me.” Explain the content of these lines.
3) What is the inner mystery in line 34?
4) What is pride according to Maya Angelou?
5) Do bodily gestures define the identity of the woman?
6) Does physique define your personality?
7) How do the clothing women wear lead false judgment to men?
8) What are some possible themes of the poem?
9) What are some writing devices used in this poem?
10) What is the most important quality for a woman according to the poet?
2. Pair Work: Please translate the poem on your own and then compare it with your partner’s.
Notes
1.Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935): She was a prominent American sociologist, novelist, writer of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, and a lecturer for social reform. She was a utopian feminist during a time when her accomplishments were exceptional for women, and she served as a role model for future generations of feminists because of her unorthodox concepts and lifestyle. Her best remembered work today is her semiautobiographical short story The Yellow Wallpaper which she wrote after a severe bout of postpartum psychosis.
2.Judy Brady (1937-): Also called Judy Syfers, she was born in San Francisco and educated at the University of Iowa where she received her B.F.A. in 1962. She became a free-lance writer during the 1960s and has written articles on such issues as abortion, education, and the labor and women’s movements for variety of publications. The provocative essay first appeared in Ms. Magazine in 1971 and has become a classic of feminist satire.
3.hors d’oeuvres: A French word meaning food served before the regular courses of the meal.
4.Maya Angelou (1928-): She is an American author and poet who has been called“America’s most visible black female autobiographer”. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. She has been awarded over 30 honorary degrees and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Angelou was a member of the Harlem Writers Guild in the late 1950s, and was active in the Civil Rights Movement.
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