Dr Maya Angelou
Phenomenal Woman46 total reviews
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
She is one of my all time favourite authors. Her poetry comes from the heart and she has had an incredible life and remains strong and courageous. She learned to face her fears and get on with life to make it good and to mean something. She has become a mentor for many others who have had to look prejudice in the eye and defy its limitations.
Your poem is well rhymed and metered and your research is mixed with emotions and many tributes to the remarkable poet and powerful person, much enjoyed Debbie, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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She is one of my all time favourite authors. Her poetry comes from the heart and she has had an incredible life and remains strong and courageous. She learned to face her fears and get on with life to make it good and to mean something. She has become a mentor for many others who have had to look prejudice in the eye and defy its limitations.
Your poem is well rhymed and metered and your research is mixed with emotions and many tributes to the remarkable poet and powerful person, much enjoyed Debbie, love Dolly x
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much, Dolly, for this kind and supportive review! I realised I'd taken on quite a task when I read about all her achievements. But I'm delighted you enjoyed it. That means a lot to me. Happy Sunday. Love Debbie x
Comment from Mrs. KT
Good morning, Debbie!
Your poetic offering/tribute of Maya Angelou is exceedingly well-crafted and comprehensive.
Such a sad childhood that was, thankfully, overcome.
And she has left a legacy to be embraced and cherished.
A beautiful rendering.
Much enjoyed!
Fondly,
diane
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Good morning, Debbie!
Your poetic offering/tribute of Maya Angelou is exceedingly well-crafted and comprehensive.
Such a sad childhood that was, thankfully, overcome.
And she has left a legacy to be embraced and cherished.
A beautiful rendering.
Much enjoyed!
Fondly,
diane
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much for this very kind and valued review from you! I'm delighted by your lovely words. Sending you and your family my love and special thoughts at this time. Debbie xo
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
What an amazing lady, Debbie. She went through that horrible trauma as a child, (I'm glad he was murdered) and remained silent for 4 years! I think it was a good thing that she was sent to her grandparents to live, and then meeting that kind school teacher who knew just what to do to get her to talk again. After all that, she evolved, she became a woman of strength, using the power of her words to the world in an effort to change some things. But she must have brought a lot of pleasure to people, after listening to her poem here. What a lovely speaking voice she had-has(?) Wonderful poem and wonderful authors notes! :)) Welld one, my friend. Sandra xx
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reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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What an amazing lady, Debbie. She went through that horrible trauma as a child, (I'm glad he was murdered) and remained silent for 4 years! I think it was a good thing that she was sent to her grandparents to live, and then meeting that kind school teacher who knew just what to do to get her to talk again. After all that, she evolved, she became a woman of strength, using the power of her words to the world in an effort to change some things. But she must have brought a lot of pleasure to people, after listening to her poem here. What a lovely speaking voice she had-has(?) Wonderful poem and wonderful authors notes! :)) Welld one, my friend. Sandra xx
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much, Sandra for your kind and very full review which I deeply appreciate! I'm delighted that the verse meant so much to you. She was an incredible force of nature wasn't she? I think I might have been quite intimidated in her presence:)) Happy Sunday, love Debbie xx
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Yes, I would have been too. 😊 It's nice that you are bringing all these people to life again, especially those that went through hardship to get to where they finally got. History is amazing when you get to look into it. xx
Comment from GoWiSt
Indeed, indeed, she was a phenomenal woman and writer.
Such a sad, traumatic childhood event--rape.
Good rhymes. I'm so glad she eventually did 'rise'.
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reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Indeed, indeed, she was a phenomenal woman and writer.
Such a sad, traumatic childhood event--rape.
Good rhymes. I'm so glad she eventually did 'rise'.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much for your kind and supportive review, greatly appreciated! Take care Debbie
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
How many teachers have planted the seed for creative growth within their students. I'm always so happy to hear of a successful person being put on the right path by a caring teacher who saw something in them.
She was surrounded by death, it seems, throughout her life. Some deserved their fate, others did not. Was her mother's friend shot because he raped a little girl, or was there some other score being settled?
I love this line: you paint it, dance it, vote it, never stop expressing it. Is this a quote from her, or your words? I like the way the word "vote" was snuck in there.
I recall that she spoke at Clinton's inauguration; she was the poet laurate at the time, I believe.
Your last line - I think of "like dust" as a reference to "dust to dust" in death. Yet, she will rise both in her soul to heaven and her words left behind to inspire us all.
She was a strong-willed, remarkable woman. And especially brave for the times in which she lived.
I have really enjoyed your biographies over the last two weeks on women who have made a difference and will be remembered for years to come for their work and words.
Marvelous, Debbie!
xo
Pam
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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How many teachers have planted the seed for creative growth within their students. I'm always so happy to hear of a successful person being put on the right path by a caring teacher who saw something in them.
She was surrounded by death, it seems, throughout her life. Some deserved their fate, others did not. Was her mother's friend shot because he raped a little girl, or was there some other score being settled?
I love this line: you paint it, dance it, vote it, never stop expressing it. Is this a quote from her, or your words? I like the way the word "vote" was snuck in there.
I recall that she spoke at Clinton's inauguration; she was the poet laurate at the time, I believe.
Your last line - I think of "like dust" as a reference to "dust to dust" in death. Yet, she will rise both in her soul to heaven and her words left behind to inspire us all.
She was a strong-willed, remarkable woman. And especially brave for the times in which she lived.
I have really enjoyed your biographies over the last two weeks on women who have made a difference and will be remembered for years to come for their work and words.
Marvelous, Debbie!
xo
Pam
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much, Pam, for this very kind and comprehensive review! It's thought that her uncles killed him, to avenge her rape, I would imagine. There's so much to be said about this woman that this could have been many times longer and it was hard to cut it down. Her sexual freedom was so important and she actually worked in a whore house for a brief time. And passion was everything - particularly anger (never bitterness) - so I paraphrased her words as closely as I could.
But I'm so pleased you mentioned about 'dust.' I obviously quoted it from her verse "I Will Rise" (her last line) but she also refers to "air" in the middle. Ideally I would have wanted to refer to a bird but didn't want to change the sense of her verse or overdo the imagery:)) In the end I opted for dust because she's now no more and it might be appropriate to imagine her ashes rising. I therefore used the present tense in the last line. That said, Pam, I welcome any suggestion on your part... please feel free. And thank you again. Debbie xo
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Debbie, I would never dare to question what you've written or make a "better" suggestion. I know the research and thought that goes into all of your work. If you wrote prose, I might suggest here and there; but not your poetry. xo
Comment from BethShelby
This was really an excellent poem and very inspiring. I don't think I was even aware of her or that we had a poet laureate until I listened to Bill Clinton's inaugeration. I'll confess at the time I didn't quite understand everything she was saying or how it applyed to him as I wasn't a Clinton fan at the time. However I did get interested in her enought to read some of "Why the Caged Bird SIngs and I did start to appreciate her work and life story. I really enjoyed the clip you shared it. It does show her sassiness.
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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This was really an excellent poem and very inspiring. I don't think I was even aware of her or that we had a poet laureate until I listened to Bill Clinton's inaugeration. I'll confess at the time I didn't quite understand everything she was saying or how it applyed to him as I wasn't a Clinton fan at the time. However I did get interested in her enought to read some of "Why the Caged Bird SIngs and I did start to appreciate her work and life story. I really enjoyed the clip you shared it. It does show her sassiness.
Comment Written 07-Apr-2024
reply by the author on 07-Apr-2024
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Thank you so much, Beth, for this very kind review which I deeply appreciate! I'm delighted by your lovely words, not least because you already know about her and appreciate her work. As long as I haven't let her down to you, I'm happy:)) Take care Debbie