Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned American writers, poets, and activists of our time. She authored nearly a dozen books, three of which have been made into plays and movies. What many people may not know is, she was also a prolific poet. She wrote an incredible number of poems, both during her lifetime and after her passing. To date, the exact number of poems she wrote has not been determined, however, there are some estimates that put the figure between about 200-500.
At least 50 of her poems were published, beginning with her poem “Vision Suite”, which was the first poem she wrote and released simultaneously in The Liberator and The African Review in 1947. Between 1952 and 1983, Angelou wrote several volumes of poetry, including: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” (1969), “Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well” (1975), and “And Still I Rise” (1978).
Angelou often wrote in a confessional and/or autobiographical style, and her poems often reflect her life experiences. She has penned poems such as, “A Brave and Startling Truth”, an ode to the United Nations’ 50th anniversary, and “On Aging”, which reflect her own experiences of growing older. She wrote ‘On the Pulse of Morning’, to commemorate the inauguration of President Bill Clinton.
When she passed away in 2014, Angelou had written several unpublished and uncollected poems. Her literary executor, Dr. Marcia Ann Gillespie and her editor at Random House, Valerie Salmaci, eventually collected those posthumous works and published them as, “The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou”. The book includes these unpublished works, as well as titled collections like: “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Die” (1971) and “Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing?” (1983).
In her lifetime, Angelou wrote numerous poems relevant to our struggles, and also to celebrate our collective successes. Even today, her work continues to inspire generations of individuals in their quest to overcome systemic oppression and injustice. Her legacy continues to live on through her words.
Publications of Her Poems
Much of Angelou’s work has been published, spanning multiple genres and styles. Her books such as “Gather Together in My Name”, published in 1974 and “The Heart of a Woman”, published in 1981, contain some of her earlier works. Her best-known collections are “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Die”, published in 1971; “Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well”, published in 1975; and “And Still I Rise”, published in 1978.
Most of Angelou’s work includes autobiographical elements, and many of her poems reflect her experiences as a Black woman in America. They range from contemplative reflections on racial inequality, oppression, sexism, and other form of discrimination, to more lighthearted topics such as love, friendship and laughter. Some of her most iconic lines include “I rise,” “Still I Rise,” “We rise in what we do,” and “Life doesn’t frighten me at all.”
In 2009, Angelou had the honour of becoming the first poet to write the foreword for the US Constitution when she penned an ode to the document titled, “A Brave and Startling Truth”. Most recently, in 2014, a collection of Angelou’s unpublished and uncollected poems was published posthumously, titled “The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou”.
Her works have been translated into languages as varied as Spanish, French, and German, and her poetry continues to be shared with people all across the globe.
Awards for Her Poems
Angelou received many accolades and awards for her poetry throughout her lifetime. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and made an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the oldest Black sorority in the US. In 1993, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and in 2012, she was inducted into the NAACP Image Award Hall of Fame.
In 1994, Angelou was invited to The White House as poet laureate, where she read her poetry to commemorate the eighth anniversary of former United States President Bill Clinton. She was designated by the Library of Congress as the first-ever African-American female T.S. Eliot Poetry Fellow, and was bestowed with several honorary doctorates, including degrees from both Oxford and Harvard Universities.
Angelou was the first African-American woman to have her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” read at a presidential inauguration. Her works have been celebrated in several festivals, including the Poetry International Festival in Rotterdam as well as the World Arts Festival in South Africa.
President Barack Obama has called her “one of the brightest lights of our time” and her words, “a reminder of the beauty of the human spirit and the power of words to stir the world.”
Influence of Her Poems
Angelou’s poetry has made a lasting impression on her readers and on contemporary literature. May 29th is celebrated as “Maya Angelou Day” in San Francisco to reflect the legacy she left behind. Her works, and her lifetime achievements, are celebrated and remembered in a variety of ways all over the world.
Her iconic poems, such as “Still I Rise” and “Phenomenal Woman”, are emblematic of the power of extraordinary women, and her words continue to be a source of strength and inspiration to many seeking to overcome oppression and injustice, in all its forms.
Angelou’s poems have been read, discussed and studied in classrooms, homes, and various institutions all over the world. Her most popular works are considered to be the most iconic of African-American literature and have been translated into scores of languages.
Angelou has had many of her poems translated into limericks, as well as being turned into visual masterpieces, like her poem “Amazing Peace” which was laser-etched onto a steel sculpture in the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C
Legacy of Maya Angelou’s Poetry
Maya Angelou’s poetry continues to leave a profound impact on literature and on the lives of her readers, decades after her passing. Her work offered a unique reflection of the African-American experience, and her words helped to combat racism and prejudices. Her works continue to offer insight, encourage thought and spur conversations about justice, freedom and feminism.
Her no-nonsense, thought-provoking prose brought her readers of all races, ages, genders and backgrounds together to discuss the issues that matter most to her. She refused to sacrifice her integrity and refused to forfeit her right to speak truth to power in her writing.
Angelou’s work is often cited by academics, lawmakers and activists. Her words have been immortalized on monuments, her presence felt even in her absence. In many ways, she still lives on, through her beloved words and timeless works. Maya Angelou’s poetry will continue to live on, as a beacon of hope and justice to many.
