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Phenomenal Woman

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Happy International Women’s Day!

To celebrate us, the women of the world today (March 8th), I share words of  a great poet, Maya Angelou. I would like to pay tribute to the phenomenal women (pictured below) that raised me, and whose blood flow in my vein.

Scan 1
From left to right, Mama De-ec, Tinang and Mama (Freda). My aunt, grandma and mum. Guess who is in the bilum…

Phenomenal Woman

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 in 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 of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Maya Angelou

25 thoughts on “Phenomenal Woman”

      3. You’re a great writer, J! You can talk about your Memoir, your Writers’ Group and how you get inspiration with ease. I’d love to read your answers. But please don’t think I’m pushing you into this! (Just pretend I’m not.) Seriously though, it is quite a quick one to do – only four questions and four people to nominate. Far quicker than some awards, as long as you don’t write long answers. I know mine were a bit too long. If you haven’t time with all the other posts you do, it’s perfectly OK to decline. So, it’s up to you … 🙂

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      4. Ok – so nominate away and let me see the questions. Thank you very much for thinking of me. I am so tired. I’m going to a close friend’s mother’s funeral tomorrow. It is very sad. Talk tomorrow Millie.

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      5. Oh, I missed this earlier. I’m so sorry to hear you’ve got a funeral to go to, especially when it’s someone so close to you. I won’t pester you further with my trite banter. Keep your chin up, Joycelin. Millie.

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  5. Reblogged this on Belonging and commented:
    Let us celebrate with invogorating enthusiasm for all great women that follow their dreams. I concur your tribute to Maya Angelou, a woman like no other, a true trailblazer for us all!

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  6. I love the photo of your family, Joycelin – and you, of course, snoozing in that bilum. 🙂 Thank you for sharing that with us, and the wonderful poem. Maya Angelou was an outstanding woman and brilliant writer. An excellent post for this International Women’s Day.

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