Phenomenal Woman

Maya Angelou

1928 - 2014

In January of 2013 two friends and I drove to Boone to hear Maya Angelou speak. It was such a typical winter night in the mountains: bitterly cold winds and remnants of snow and ice everywhere. But inside the Holmes Center no one was thinking about their cold journey to get there. Even the hard seats, made for sports events, seemed comfortable. We were all "at home" with Maya that evening listening to her unmistakable voice and taking courage from her presence and words. The crowd was mostly young and from the moment she came on stage there seemed to be one purpose in her heart: encourage this "future generation" to let nothing stop them from living their dreams. 

I wish I had written down some of her words that night, but as I look back I realize that the most important thing for me was to see this woman, hear her voice, and receive her strong spirit. When she recited Phenomenal Woman, it was for every woman in the auditorium:

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 for my care. 

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me. 

(last stanza: Phenomenal Woman)

When I think of Maya it is to remember her strength as a woman; her ability to survive her childhood, and racial prejudice. She has taught us much about how to survive when life is hard and the world is unfair. And her strength lives on. 

Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise.

Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise.

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear the tide.

(Still I rise: fourth stanza)

Diane Rehm interviewed Maya later in 2013 and it was wonderful to hear these two great women interacting with each other. Toward the end of the interview, Maya said, " I like you so much, Diane Rehm, and so does your audience. And I have a feeling all the time that you and I are best friends. And I know that if we lived near each other, at least, we'd see each other once a month, have a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or something..." At the end of the show Diane told Maya thank you and then added, "I love you Maya." and Maya said, "I love you Diane Rehm." 

Seems a good way to say good-bye to Maya: Thank you and we love you...