Maya Angelou’s Collection:“And Still I Rise”

This article is one that I have put off publishing for a while; mainly due to the vulnerability I admit to feeling associated with this collection. I picked up this book when my husband and I walked into a well known chain bookstore in a fragile, confused state, trying to process some potentially bad news. I had previously seen this book on the shelves while browsing through the store, but had shrugged off this title without a second glance. Yet this time I paused; something was telling me there were words on those pages I needed to read. 

I had heard of Maya Angelou, but I had never read anything of hers and knew nothing about her. Maya Angelou, 1928- 2014, was at the receiving end of poverty, racism, violence and rose from all of this to become a writer and a civil rights activist. In 1969 she released the autobiographical novel “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and wrote seven more top up autobiographical books. As well as the autobiographies, she has an extensive writing CV , including other poetry collections, essays, two children’s books, two cookbooks and two picture books. 

Note: my copy of “And Still I Rise” ( Virago Press 2009), also includes her next Poetry collection “Shaker Why Wont You Sing?” 

“And Still I Rise” Is divided into 3 parts made up of 32 poems. (The version with the additional collection adds another 28 poems on top.) The First part is called “Touch Me, Life, Not Softly”. The second is called “Travelling”. The third section has the same title as the collection and signature poem, “And Still I Rise”. The first and second part build’s a picture of varying issues in the narrator’s life. The third section are poems full of determination, resilience  and praise for God. Her faith clearly played a central part in Angelou’s life, as she gave the responsibility of closing the collection to the prayerful praise poem “Thank You Lord”. 

For any reader (including myself) it would be easier to jump to the last section and skip some uncomfortable poems in the first two sections ( e.g “ A Kind of Love, Some Say”, “Junkie Monkey Reel” and “To Beat The Child Was Bad Enough”). However to truly appreciate the value of the end section, you cannot skip the journey of how the narrator got there. 

My life may not mirror Angelou’s, but like everyone on earth; in my comparatively short twenty eight years, I too have had tough times. No matter what shape or form it takes on, suffering is unfortunately a part of being human. So naturally, I can identify with some of the emotions experienced by the narrator; even if my circumstances are different.  Only a couple days after buying this collection, I was rushed into hospital for emergency surgery. This book was at my bedside in the hospital and in the midst of my own emotional turmoil, Angelou’s words gave me not only courage, but hope. The poems in this collection urged me during a difficult time to lean on God’s understanding and trust in his plan, no matter how hard that may be. 

The gift to create work that can imprint someone so significantly, is the mark of not just a GOOD poet but a GREAT one. So do yourself a favour; pick up one of her books, it may just get your attention too.

Favourite Poem’s of mine in this collection: 

• Just For A Time 
• Remembrance 
• The Lesson
• The Memory
• Just Like Job 
• Still I Rise 

For those who also have Angelou’s next collection “Shaker Why Wont You Sing?” in their copy: some of my favourites from this are:

• Recovery 
• Caged Bird
• Insomniac
• My Life Has Turned To Blue

© Megan Layley