A literary column by Marcia Diane

 

Fate has a strange hold over us all, don’t you think? Last month I promised a change. I promised to feature an author this month as opposed to a poet. When I heard of the loss of our beloved poet and author Maya Angelou I was not only made very sad, but determined to honor her here today. And Maya was not only a poet of enormous talent but an author as well.

Her 1986 book; “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes”, is but one example of her breath as a writer and historian, biographer, teacher, civil rights worker and cook. Yep, I didn’t know this about her, but it only further endears her as far as this columnist who loves to cook sees it.

She also knew how to tell a story out loud, the origin of all storytelling, yes. This talent she parlayed to dancing, singing, acting, playwright and Hollywood’s first black female director.

President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Angelou was awarded over 50 honorary degrees.

The word versatile is really not large enough for this amazing person. She has left us, but not without an incredible legacy. She surely left us with this clear consistent message: don’t ever give up.

Here is the last stanza from her poem Phenomenal Woman

 

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

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

 

I encourage everyone to read more of her…you won’t be sorry. Joins us won’t you on line at m.diane.writeon@gmail.com for our monthly writers’ group.