Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman
Poet, author and human rights activist Maya Angelou has died, aged 86. Listen to her reciting her legendary poem, Phenomenal Woman, here.
The Pulitzer Prize winner was found dead by her caretaker this morning.
Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928.
She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays as well as several books of poetry. She was also a playwright, director, actor, singer, songwriter - and spent some years in Egypt and Ghana, where she worked as a journalist.
Angelou was involved in the civil rights movement in the United States and was close friends with Malcolm X.
Her family posted this short statement on her Facebook page, shortly after news of her death broke.
Post by Maya Angelou.
Last year, Angelou delivered a beautiful poem as a tribute to Nelson Mandela, following his death. Watch the video here
Read Angelou's Phenomenal Woman, and listen to her reciting the poem below.
Phenomenal Woman
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 for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
—Maya Angelou
(Photo: Facebook.com/MayaAngelou)