Woman Work, poetry by Maya Angelou

Image Credit:www.whitehouse.gov

Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was a renowned American poet, writer, civil rights activist, singer, dancer and actress. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, Angelou had one older brother Bailey, Jr. She and Bailey were raised in Stamps, Arkansas by their paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson. For almost five years, young Marguerite became mute because she believed that her voice killed the man who sexually abused and raped her when he was released from prison. Although it was not publicized who murdered him, it was thought that Maya's uncles probably did. During her silence she developed extraordinary memory and a great love for books and literature.

Although she received international recognition and acclaim for her 1969 book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, she was cited for publishing several books of poetry, three books of essays, seven autobiographies and received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. In 1971, Angelou published the Pulitzer Prize nominated volume of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Diiie: The Poetry of Maya Angelou.

To this date, she is one of only 5 poets to read at a presidential inauguration. In January 1993, she recited her poem, On the Pulse of Morning for the inauguration ceremony for President William "Bill" Clinton. Recently, Maya Angelou was honored with a Forever Stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Her voice was an amazing contribution to the literary arts. Angelou died on May 28, 2014. As we celebrate National Poetry Month, please enjoy this poem Woman Work, by Maya Angelou.

Woman Work

By Maya Angelou

I've got the children to tend

The clothes to mend

The floor to mop

The food to shop

Then the chicken to fry

The baby to dry

I got company to feed

The garden to weed

I've got shirts to press

The tots to dress

The can to be cut

I gotta clean up this hut

Then see about the sick

And the cotton to pick.

Shine on me, sunshine

Rain on me, rain

Fall softly, dewdrops

And cool my brow again.

Storm, blow me from here

With your fiercest wind

Let me float across the sky

'Til I can rest again.

Fall gently, snowflakes

Cover me with white

Cold icy kisses and

Let me rest tonight.

Sun, rain, curving sky

Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone

Star shine, moon glow

You're all that I can call my own.