Still I Rise Poem Maya Angelou – Deep Analysis

I believe she speaks to everyone in Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” poem. This poem exemplifies how she could touch so many in so many ways. How could her grace, confidence, determination, intelligence, and the quest for peace not handle you? She speaks to all, saying, “still I rise.” Everyone has a time, or a thousand, in their life where she needs to rise.

Her words speak sadness without pity and hope without abandonment. Instead of focusing on all the challenging obstacles brought about by chronic Migraine, I want to focus on the positive. I believe it is the point that Maya was trying to bring home. Beyond the “broken, lies, defeat, cries, shame, pain, and fear” that life throws at us, there is “pride, life, courage, hope, and a dream.”

Ending with “naturally, there I go rising” is powerful. The word “naturally” speaks to the human spirit. I have been told countless times, “I don’t know how you do it,” about my pain. Naturally, I rise. I rise to laugh and dance again, as she says. Thus, I wake to kiss my children and husband. I grow to be the person I want to be instead of the person I am forced to be. I rise as a big F.You to my pain (although I’m not sure if Maya would agree with my wording). My choice is to allow it to consume me or rise.

I may not always have a choice to raise out of bed or out into the world, but in the cold dark room I live in, I remind myself, I too shall rise. Thank you, Maya, for reminding us that it’s ok to have dark times. Only then will you truly grow.

I Dreamed a Dream by Susan Boyle

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