Quote Monster: Dr. Maya Angelou

"All great achievements require time."

Video: Nike Basketball - LeBron Rise

Nike Basketball video -- LeBron James.  The message: the difference between the expectations others may have of him versus the expectations he has of himself.  The madness behind producing this video stems from the controversy surrounding his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and play for the Miami Heat (July 2010) -- and, naturally to promote his line with Nike. Side note: the video includes a line from Dr. Maya Angelou's poem, "Still I Rise." As always, enjoy!

Poem: Still I Rise - Dr. Maya Angelou

 

Still I Rise

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.

Poem: Phenomenal Woman by Dr. Maya Angelou

Friends, this is one of my favorite poems. The first time I heard it was in the Spring of 2002, Debbie Allen recited this poem on national television. Unfortunately, I can not remember the name of the darn program -- thinking it was about women empowerment or some sort of showcase honoring phenomenal women. In any case, enjoy!

Painting by Paul Gauguin

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 of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou