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 of 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.

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 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?

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous
Actually, who are we not to be

You are a child of God
Your playing small doesn't serve the world
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us

It is not just in some of us: It's in everyone
And as we let our own light shine
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same
As we are liberated from our fears
Our presence automatically liberates others