A Phenomenal Woman's Graduation

Yesterday my youngest graduated from high school. A milestone in her life. My baby has graduated! So much of life in front of her. So much of life in front of her. I hope so much for my daughter as I do for all my children. Graduation is the mark of a new beginning. It made me think of a poem by Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman.

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. 

It's what I wish for my daughter to become the woman she desires to become...anything that's before her I want her to strive to do if its her wish. I want the sky to be the limit.

AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE

I wrote Whispers of a Legend because of my daughters. I wanted both of them to understand that the road before them winds but to live...really live...you will persevere and hold to your dreams.