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Question: What do you think the poet is trying to convey!?
here are 2 poems by Maya Angelou!. could you please pick one, say why you picked that one and what you think she's trying to convey!? it doesnt have to be a long essay i just wanna know your thoughts on it!.!. thanks!.

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise!.

Does my sassiness upset you!?
Why are you beset with gloom!?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room!.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise!.

Did you want to see me broken!?
Bowed head and lowered eyes!?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops!.
Weakened by my soulful cries!.

Does my haughtiness offend you!?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard!.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise!.

Does my sexiness upset you!?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs!?

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 in the tide!.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave!.
I rise
I rise
I rise!.






Phenomenal Woman by 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!.
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I read both and will comment on the first one!.

THEME
On my initial read it seemed as though it were a woman that had endured many trials, but managed to confidently succumb them!.

As I continued through the reading and again the second time, it seemed as though it were a woman with some issues!. There's an air of anger and arrogance!. Nether of which is attractive in a person!. It seems that she is allowing her life in the present to be negatively dominated by issues of the past!.

SUBSTANCE/EMOTION
I did enjoy that the level of pain, anger, defiance and feelings of persecution were vividly and creatively expressed!. The following passage is a good example!.

"Does my sexiness upset you!?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs!?"

That's HOTT!

STYLE AND RHYTHM
I like the flow and the way it sounds as I read it aloud!. It has a funky feel to it!. It seems like it could be a dance song that Beyonce would sing!.

So overall I enjoyed it and will look to find more of her poetry to read!. Thanks for sharing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

still i rise is such a phenominal poem!. i would choose that one because it just talks about not letting anythingbring your confidence level down and such!. Maya is trying to convey just that, in my opinion!. That with all your gossip and harsh words, she'll always rise!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

still i rise is such a phenominal poem!. i would choose that one because it just talks about not letting anythingbring your confidence level down and such!. Maya is trying to convey just that, in my opinion!. That with all your gossip and harsh words, she'll always rise
i choose the first one because the second one just began to bore me!. in the first poem, it shows that the person thinks highly or him or herself or will stand back up even though something bad will happen!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i choose the first one because the second one just began to bore me!. in the first poem, it shows that the person thinks highly or him or herself or will stand back up even though something bad will happen!.Www@QuestionHome@Com